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  | isbn    = 0-89181-602-X

  | isbn    = 0-89181-602-X

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Evolutionary change within fossil lineages and the morphologic (i.e., size and shape) adaptation of fossil species to different ancient environments can only be inferred from morphologic analysis of fossil populations.<ref name=ch17r76>Scott, G., H., 1980, The value of outline processing in the biometry and systematics of fossils: [[Palaeontology]], vol. 23, p. 757–768.</ref> Until the early 1970s the morphologic study of microfossils involved tedious “eyeball” measurements of large numbers of specimens from many samples, precluding use of the technique in industrial application. Rapid advances in computer, video, and multivariate statistical techniques have greatly reduced the time required to collect quantitative measurements on large numbers of shells.

Evolutionary change within fossil lineages and the morphologic (i.e., size and shape) adaptation of fossil species to different ancient environments can only be inferred from morphologic analysis of fossil populations.<ref name=ch17r76>Scott, G. H., 1980, The value of outline processing in the biometry and systematics of fossils: Palaeontology, vol. 23, p. 757–768.</ref> Until the early 1970s the morphologic study of microfossils involved tedious “eyeball” measurements of large numbers of specimens from many samples, precluding use of the technique in industrial application. Rapid advances in computer, video, and multivariate statistical techniques have greatly reduced the time required to collect quantitative measurements on large numbers of shells.

==Morphometric procedure==

==Morphometric procedure==

[[file:applied-paleontology_fig17-33.png|thumb|300px|{{figure number|1}}Printed with permission of N. Healy-Williams, University of South Carolina.]]

[[file:applied-paleontology_fig17-33.png|thumb|300px|{{figure number|1}}Printed with permission of N. Healy-Williams, University of South Carolina.]]

Morphometric analysis involves collecting the measurements of two or three dimensions of fossil form, typically either an outline (silhouette) or the coordinate positions of a morphologic “landmark.” Once a sufficient data set is collected, multivariate methods are used to break out fossil “shape components” statistically and to relate component variability to chronostratigraphic or paleoenvironmental indices.<ref name=ch17r29>Davis, J., C., 1986, Statistics and data analysis in geology: New York, John Wiley, 646 p.</ref> When the relationship between change in fossil shape and environmental and stratigraphic data is established, fossil morphology can increase confidence in geologic correlation and paleoenvironmental inference.<ref name=ch17r73>Reyment, R., A., Blackith, R., E., Campbell, N., A., 1984, Multivariate Morphometrics, 2nd ed.: London, Academic Press, 233 p.</ref><ref name=ch17r74>Rohlf, F., J., Bookstein, F., L., eds., 1990, Proceedings of the Michigan Morphometrics Workshop: University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Special Publication 2, 380 p.</ref>

Morphometric analysis involves collecting the measurements of two or three dimensions of fossil form, typically either an outline (silhouette) or the coordinate positions of a morphologic “landmark.” Once a sufficient data set is collected, multivariate methods are used to break out fossil “shape components” statistically and to relate component variability to chronostratigraphic or paleoenvironmental indices.<ref name=ch17r29>Davis, J. C., 1986, Statistics and data analysis in geology: New York, John Wiley, 646 p.</ref> When the relationship between change in fossil shape and environmental and stratigraphic data is established, fossil morphology can increase confidence in geologic correlation and paleoenvironmental inference.<ref name=ch17r73>Reyment, R. A., R. E. Blackith, and N. A. Campbell, 1984, Multivariate Morphometrics, 2nd ed.: London, Academic Press, 233 p.</ref><ref name=ch17r74>Rohlf, F. J., and F. L. Bookstein, eds., 1990, Proceedings of the Michigan Morphometrics Workshop: University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Special Publication 2, 380 p.</ref>

==Applications==

==Applications==