Morphometric Analysis: Course Description and Objectives

Morphometrics is the study of shape variation and its covariation with other variables. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the theory and methods for the analysis of biological shape (morphometrics). Particular emphasis will be placed on landmark and outline methods for shape analysis, and the data spaces implied by these techniques. The main objective of the course is to provide students with sufficient knowledge of these approaches that they will be able to apply them to their own research programs. As such, the course is designed around the more practical aspects of morphometric analysis, such as data acquisition, standardization, statistical analysis, and visualization of results.

I firmly believe that new techniques are best learned through a combination of discussion and hands-on experience. Thus, the material covered in this course will be taught in both lecture and laboratory. Each week, there will be three hours of lecture and a laboratory period. The laboratory period is designed to reinforce the concepts discussed during lecture. It is designed to familiarize students with the equipment and software programs commonly used in morphometrics, so that they may better apply these methods to their own research.

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