Morphological variability or inter-observer bias? A methodological toolkit to improve data quality of multi-researcher datasets for the analysis of morphological variation.

Autor: Schüßler D; Institute of Biology and Chemistry, University of Hildesheim, Hildesheim, Germany., Blanco MB; Duke Lemur Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA., Guthrie NK; Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada., Sgarlata GM; Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal., Dammhahn M; Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany., Ernest R; QIT Madagascar Minerals, Fort-Dauphin, Madagascar., Evasoa MR; Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany., Hasiniaina A; Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.; School for International Training, Antananarivo, Madagascar., Hending D; Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK., Jan F; Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal., le Pors B; Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal., Miller A; Perth Zoo, South Perth, Western Australia, Australia., Olivieri G; Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany., Rakotonanahary AN; Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership (MBP), Antananarivo, Madagascar., Rakotondranary SJ; Mention Anthropobiologie et Développement Durable, Faculté des Sciences, Université d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar., Rakotondravony R; Faculté des Sciences, de Technologies et de l'Environnement, Ecole Doctorale Ecosystèmes Naturels, Université de Mahajanga, Mahajanga, Madagascar., Ralantoharijaona T; Faculté des Sciences, de Technologies et de l'Environnement, Ecole Doctorale Ecosystèmes Naturels, Université de Mahajanga, Mahajanga, Madagascar., Ramananjato V; Department of Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA.; Mention Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Faculté des Sciences, Université d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar., Randrianambinina B; Faculté des Sciences, de Technologies et de l'Environnement, Ecole Doctorale Ecosystèmes Naturels, Université de Mahajanga, Mahajanga, Madagascar., Raoelinjanakolona NN; Mention Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Faculté des Sciences, Université d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar., Rasoazanabary E; Department of Anthropology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA., Rasoloarison RM; Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany., Rasolofoson DW; Groupe d'Etude et de Recherche sur les Primates de Madagascar (GERP), Antananarivo, Madagascar., Rasoloharijaona S; Faculté des Sciences, de Technologies et de l'Environnement, Ecole Doctorale Ecosystèmes Naturels, Université de Mahajanga, Mahajanga, Madagascar., Rasolondraibe E; Faculté des Sciences, de Technologies et de l'Environnement, Ecole Doctorale Ecosystèmes Naturels, Université de Mahajanga, Mahajanga, Madagascar., Roberts SH; Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA., Teixeira H; Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.; UMR ENTROPIE, Université de La Réunion, La Réunion, France., van Elst T; Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany., Johnson SE; Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada., Ganzhorn JU; Animal Ecology and Conservation, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany., Chikhi L; Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal.; Laboratoire Évolution et Diversité Biologique, UMR5174, IRD, CNRS, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France., Kappeler PM; Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany.; Department of Anthropology/Sociobiology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany., Louis EE Jr; Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership (MBP), Antananarivo, Madagascar., Salmona J; Laboratoire Évolution et Diversité Biologique, UMR5174, IRD, CNRS, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France., Radespiel U; Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: American journal of biological anthropology [Am J Biol Anthropol] 2024 Jan; Vol. 183 (1), pp. 60-78. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Aug 21.
DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24836
Abstrakt: Objectives: The investigation of morphological variation in animals is widely used in taxonomy, ecology, and evolution. Using large datasets for meta-analyses has dramatically increased, raising concerns about dataset compatibilities and biases introduced by contributions of multiple researchers.
Materials and Methods: We compiled morphological data on 13 variables for 3073 individual mouse lemurs (Cheirogaleidae, Microcebus spp.) from 25 taxa and 153 different sampling locations, measured by 48 different researchers. We introduced and applied a filtering pipeline and quantified improvements in data quality (Shapiro-Francia statistic, skewness, and excess kurtosis). The filtered dataset was then used to test for genus-wide sexual size dimorphism and the applicability of Rensch's, Allen's, and Bergmann's rules.
Results: Our pipeline reduced inter-observer bias (i.e., increased normality of data distributions). Inter-observer reliability of measurements was notably variable, highlighting the need to reduce data collection biases. Although subtle, we found a consistent pattern of sexual size dimorphism across Microcebus, with females being the larger (but not heavier) sex. Sexual size dimorphism was isometric, providing no support for Rensch's rule. Variations in tail length but not in ear size were consistent with the predictions of Allen's rule. Body mass and length followed a pattern contrary to predictions of Bergmann's rule.
Discussion: We highlighted the usefulness of large multi-researcher datasets for testing ecological hypotheses after correcting for inter-observer biases. Using genus-wide tests, we outlined generalizable patterns of morphological variability across all mouse lemurs. This new methodological toolkit aims to facilitate future large-scale morphological comparisons for a wide range of taxa and applications.
(© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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