Special Issue "Application of Geometric Morphometrics"

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Biosciences and Bioengineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 February 2022.

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Miguel Ángel Maté-González
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Ingeniería Topográfica y Cartografía, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Interests: topography; geodesy; cartography; photogrammetry; macro-photogrammetry; geovisualization; geometric morphometry
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Geometric morphometry (GM) is the shape statistical analysis based on Cartesian coordinates (landmarks) that allows structural data to be quantified and the variation between morphologies to be studied by analyzing their position in space. GM is presented as an alternative to traditional methods for morphological studies through more descriptive and qualitative analyses. With this technique, a new updated toolbox is shown for the study of variations in size and shape, using advanced statistics and a series of tools for the visualization of results.

In this context, original research in which geometric morphometry contributes to the resolution of classification problems are welcome. In this sense, scientific contributions can be related to works in biological anthropology and, in general, in the biological sciences and procedures for the statistical analysis of forms.

Prof. Dr. Miguel Ángel Maté-González
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • Geometric morphometry
  • Statistical analysis
  • Computer vision
  • Machine learning and Deep Learning
  • Biological anthropology
  • Biological Science
  • Medicine
  • Paleontology

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

Article
Parallel Evolution of Allometric Trajectories of Trophic Morphology between Sympatric Morphs of Mesoamerican Astyanax (Characidae)
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(17), 8020; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11178020 (registering DOI) - 30 Aug 2021
Abstract
Parallel evolution of the body shape and trophic-related traits has been detected between sympatric pairs of lake-dwelling characin fishes in Mesoamerica. Here, we evaluated the variation in and the ontogenetic allometric trajectories of trophic morphology between sympatric Astyanax morphs (elongate and deep-body) in [...] Read more.
Parallel evolution of the body shape and trophic-related traits has been detected between sympatric pairs of lake-dwelling characin fishes in Mesoamerica. Here, we evaluated the variation in and the ontogenetic allometric trajectories of trophic morphology between sympatric Astyanax morphs (elongate and deep-body) in two geographic systems, Lake Catemaco (Mexico) and San Juan River basin (Nicaragua and Costa Rica). Using geometric morphometrics, we determined the shape variation and disparity in the premaxillary bone, and the patterns of allometric trajectories between morphs in each system. We found a higher differentiation and disparity in the premaxilla shape between morphs from San Juan River basin than between the Lake Catemaco ones. We found shared (parallel evolution) patterns of divergence between systems, which included allometric trajectories showing a positive correlation between the premaxilla shape and log centroid size, as well as trajectories being extended in the elongated-body morph (truncated in the deep-body morph). Regarding the unique patterns of divergence, we recovered parallel allometric trajectories between morphs from Lake Catemaco, while the San Juan River basin morphs showed divergent trajectories. Our results are congruent with the hypothesis that divergence in trophic morphology can be considered a triggering factor in the divergence in the genus Astyanax from Mesoamerica. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Geometric Morphometrics)
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Article
Fluctuating Asymmetry and Stress in Macaca fuscata: Does Captivity Affect Morphology?
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(17), 7879; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11177879 (registering DOI) - 26 Aug 2021
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Abstract
Fluctuating Asymmetry (FA) in morphology is used as a proxy for developmental instability in response to stress factors. FA has important implications for understanding the impact of differential environments and stressors on the skeletal phenotype. Here, we explore FA in the mandibular morphology [...] Read more.
Fluctuating Asymmetry (FA) in morphology is used as a proxy for developmental instability in response to stress factors. FA has important implications for understanding the impact of differential environments and stressors on the skeletal phenotype. Here, we explore FA in the mandibular morphology of wild and captive Macaca fuscata to detect differences induced by the captive environment. We use two different approaches in Geometric Morphometrics to characterise the degree and patterns of FA and Directional Asymmetry (DA) based on 3D mandibular landmarks. Our results show that the wild and captive groups exhibit morphological dissimilarities in the symmetric component of shape while no significant degree of asymmetry (fluctuating or directional) was detected. Based on our results and on previous literature on the subject, we suggest that (I) captivity is likely to affect the mandibular morphology of M. fuscata; (II) FA may not be a suitable indicator to detect stress in the conditions analysed; and that (III) the mandible may not be the ideal region to study asymmetry because of its functional nature. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Geometric Morphometrics)
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Article
New Geometric Morphometric Insights in Digital Taphonomy: Analyses into the Sexual Dimorphism of Felids through Their Tooth Pits
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(17), 7848; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11177848 - 26 Aug 2021
Viewed by 151
Abstract
Recent studies using geometric morphometrics for taphonomy have yielded interesting results, opening new horizons of research in both archaeological and paleontological sites. Here we present the analysis of tooth pits left by male and female individuals of two different carnivore species (Panthera [...] Read more.
Recent studies using geometric morphometrics for taphonomy have yielded interesting results, opening new horizons of research in both archaeological and paleontological sites. Here we present the analysis of tooth pits left by male and female individuals of two different carnivore species (Panthera tigris and Panthera pardus) in order to see if sexual dimorphism influences the morphology of tooth pit marks. In the process, 3D-scanning and applied statistics were used. Based on samples derived from two individuals of different sexes, the present results indicate sexual dimorphism in these felid species to not be a conditioning factor of tooth pit morphology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Geometric Morphometrics)
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Article
Use of Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN) for Taphonomic Image Augmentation and Model Protocol for the Deep Learning Analysis of Bone Surface Modifications
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(11), 5237; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11115237 - 04 Jun 2021
Viewed by 670
Abstract
Deep learning models are based on a combination of neural network architectures, optimization parameters and activation functions. All of them provide exponential combinations whose computational fitness is difficult to pinpoint. The intricate resemblance of the microscopic features that are found in bone surface [...] Read more.
Deep learning models are based on a combination of neural network architectures, optimization parameters and activation functions. All of them provide exponential combinations whose computational fitness is difficult to pinpoint. The intricate resemblance of the microscopic features that are found in bone surface modifications make their differentiation challenging, and determining a baseline combination of optimizers and activation functions for modeling seems necessary for computational economy. Here, we experiment with combinations of the most resolutive activation functions (relu, swish, and mish) and the most efficient optimizers (stochastic gradient descent (SGD) and Adam) for bone surface modification analysis. We show that despite a wide variability of outcomes, a baseline of relu–SGD is advised for raw bone surface modification data. For imbalanced samples, augmented datasets generated through generative adversarial networks are implemented, resulting in balanced accuracy and an inherent bias regarding mark replication. In summary, although baseline procedures are advised, these do not prevent to overcome Wolpert’s “no free lunch” theorem and extend it beyond model architectures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Geometric Morphometrics)
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Article
Geometric and Volumetric Measurements of Orbital Structures in CT Scans in Thyroid Eye Disease Classification
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(11), 4873; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11114873 - 26 May 2021
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Abstract
This study examines the usefulness of both geometric and volumetric measurements of orbital soft tissues on CT scans to provide quantitative diagnostic guidance in image reading of thyroid eye disease (TED). Computed tomography (CT) images were obtained from 92 orbits and were classified [...] Read more.
This study examines the usefulness of both geometric and volumetric measurements of orbital soft tissues on CT scans to provide quantitative diagnostic guidance in image reading of thyroid eye disease (TED). Computed tomography (CT) images were obtained from 92 orbits and were classified as impaired motility (TED-IM) and normal motility (TED-NM). The TED-IM group was further divided into dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON) and non-DON groups. There were 5 volumetric, 2 angular, and 3 ratio parameter measurements acquired from CT images to examine their feasibility in TED classification. We found that the mean volumes of extraocular muscle and retroorbital fat and their ratio to the orbital volume were significantly different between the two motility groups. The mean ratio of extraocular muscle volume in orbital apex and orbital apex volume (EMV-OA/OAV) was significantly larger in DON than non-DON patients (p < 0.05). The population distribution among TED-NM, non-DON, and DON groups significantly varied for different angles between the optic nerve and medial rectus and lateral rectus. In conclusion, geometric and volumetric measurements using CT scans help to quantitatively classify TED. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Geometric Morphometrics)
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