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On the comparison of the strength of morphological integration across morphometric datasets
Evolution
  • Dean C. Adams, Iowa State University
  • Michael L. Collyer, Western Kentucky University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Accepted Manuscript
Publication Date
11-1-2016
DOI
10.1111/evo.13045
Abstract

Evolutionary morphologists frequently wish to understand the extent to which organisms are integrated, and whether the strength of morphological integration among subsets of phenotypic variables differ among taxa or other groups. However, comparisons of the strength of integration across datasets are difficult, in part because the summary measures that characterize these patterns (RV and rPLS) are dependent both on sample size and on the number of variables. As a solution to this issue we propose a standardized test statistic (a z-score) for measuring the degree of morphological integration between sets of variables. The approach is based on a partial least squares analysis of trait covariation, and its permutation-based sampling distribution. Under the null hypothesis of a random association of variables, the method displays a constant expected value and confidence intervals for datasets of differing sample sizes and variable number, thereby providing a consistent measure of integration suitable for comparisons across datasets. A two-sample test is also proposed to statistically determine whether levels of integration differ between datasets, and an empirical example examining cranial shape integration in Mediterranean wall lizards illustrates its use. Some extensions of the procedure are also discussed.

Comments

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Adams, D. C. and Collyer, M. L. (2016), On the comparison of the strength of morphological integration across morphometric datasets. Evolution, 70: 2623–2631, which has been published in final form at doi: 10.1111/evo.13045. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.

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Copyright Owner
The Authors
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Dean C. Adams and Michael L. Collyer. "On the comparison of the strength of morphological integration across morphometric datasets" Evolution Vol. 70 Iss. 11 (2016) p. 2623 - 2631
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/dean-adams/29/