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Article: Use and misuse of discrete character data for morphospace and disparity analyses

Palaeontology - Volume 62 Part 2 - Cover
Publication: Palaeontology
Volume: 62
Part: 2
Publication Date: March 2019
Page(s): 305 319
Author(s): Sylvain Gerber
Addition Information

How to Cite

GERBER, S. 2019. Use and misuse of discrete character data for morphospace and disparity analyses. Palaeontology, 62, 2, 305-319. DOI: /doi/10.1111/pala.12407

Author Information

  • Sylvain Gerber - Institut Systématique Evolution Biodiversité (ISYEB) Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle CNRS EPHE Sorbonne Université 45 rue Buffon, CP 50 75005 Paris France

Publication History

  • Issue published online: 14 February 2019
  • Manuscript Accepted: 18 September 2018
  • Manuscript Received: 13 April 2018

Funded By

Templeton World Charity Foundation. Grant Number: LBAG/143

Online Version Hosted By

Wiley Online Library
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Abstract

The measurement of morphological variation in macroevolutionary studies is increasingly based on morphospaces constructed from discrete character data. This trend mostly results from the appropriation of phylogenetic data matrices as character spaces for carrying out disparity analyses. Phylogenetic matrices provide morphological descriptions of taxa as combinations of character states and thus appear, if not conceptually, at least mathematically, comparable to discrete character datasets found in numerical taxonomy or built for disparity purposes. Hence, phylogenetic matrices seem to constitute an abundant source of data readily available for morphospace analyses. Discrete character spaces have generally been described as more flexible than morphospaces capturing continuous shape variation. The discrete coding of morphology allows morphospaces to accommodate more disparate morphologies and the ability of discrete character schemes to handle missing data is also often emphasized. This flexibility comes at a cost, however. Multivariate ordinations of such spaces often provide deceptive visualizations and may invite the use of inappropriate methodologies for their exploration. The large amount of missing data that typifies many phylogenetic datasets is also problematic for the measurement of dissimilarity among taxa and can therefore be detrimental to the assessment of morphological disparity. Here, the properties of discrete character spaces are described and common pitfalls discussed. Graphical and methodological approaches are suggested to circumvent or limit their impact, and greater caution is recommended when using discrete character data for morphospace and disparity inferences.

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