The field of geometric morphometrics (GM) is concerned with the quantification and analysis of patterns of shape variation, and its co-variation with other variables.
Over the past several decades these approaches have become a mainstay in the field of ecology, evolutionary biology, and anthropology, and a panoply of analytical tools for addressing specific biological hypotheses concerning shape have been developed. The goal of this course is to provide participants with a working knowledge of the theory of geometric morphometrics, as well as practical training in the application of these methods.
Course location and tutors
This course is being delivered by Prof. Dean Adams, Prof. Michael Collyer and Dr. Antigoni Kaliontzopoulou and will run from 5th – 9th June 2017 at Millport Field Centre on the Isle of Cumbre, Scotland. Please note that although the course is held on an island it is extremely accessible and easy to reach using public transport.
Course sessions
The course is organised in both theoretical and practical sessions. The theoretical sessions will provide a comprehensive introduction to the methods of landmark-based geometric morphometrics, which aims at providing the participants with a solid theoretical background for understanding the procedures used in shape data analysis. Practical sessions will include worked examples, giving the participants the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the treatment of shape data using the R package geomorph. These sessions focus on the generation of shape variables from primary landmark data, the statistical treatment of shape variation with respect to biological hypotheses, and the visualization of patterns of shape variation and of the shapes themselves for interpretation of statistical findings, using the R language for statistical programming. Practice datasets will be available, but it is strongly recommended that participants come with their own datasets.
Note: Because this is a geometric morphometrics workshop in R, it is required that participants have some working knowledge in R. The practical sessions of the course will focus on GM-based analyses, and not basic R user-interfacing. It is therefore strongly recommended that participants refresh their R skills prior to attending the workshop.
Costs
Course cost is £520 for students and academic staff and £630 for people working in industry.
An accommodation package is available for £275, and includes all meals and refreshments.
Course Programme
Sunday 5th June
Meet at Millport field centre at approximately 18:30.
Monday 6th
Classes from 09:00 to 18:00
1: Morphometrics: History, Introduction and Data Types
2: Review of matrix algebra and multivariate statistics
3: Superimposition
4: Software demonstration and lab practicum
Tuesday 7th
Classes from 09:00 to 18:00
1: Shape spaces, shape variables, PCA
2: GPA with semi-landmarks
3: Shape covariation
4: Software demonstration and lab practicum
Wednesday 8th
Classes from 09:00 to 18:00
1: Phylogenetic shape variation
2: Group Differences & Trajectory Analysis
3: Allometry
4: Software demonstration and lab practicum
Thursday 9th
Classes from 09:00 to 18:00
1: Assymetry
2: Missing Data
3: Integration and Modularity
4: Disparity
5: Software demonstration and lab practicum
Friday 10th
Classes from 09:00 to 16:00
1: Future Directions
2: Lab Pacticum
3: Student Presentations
Further information
Please send enquiries to oliverhooker@prstatistics.co.uk or visit the PR statistics website