Code and data for the new practical in the Vertebrate Form and Evolution module at Imperial College London.
Learning objectives:
🐟 understand chronology and phylogeny of vertebrate evolution
🐟 understand advanced topics in phylogenetics
🐟 practice key dissection and specimen preparation skills
🐟 understand morphological variables relating to function and physiology
🐟 undertake comparative studies using real specimens and report the results in the context of relevant literature
Tasks:
- create a landmark scheme
- identify homologous structures
- align homologous points
- identify deformations
Tasks:
- investigate patterns of shape variation
- principal component analysis of landmarks
- plot specimens in the morphospace
Tasks:
- map PCA data to a phylogeny
- estimate ancestral states
- investigate changes in rates of evolution
