Three-dimensional geometric morphometrics for studying floral shape variation.
Variation in floral shape is of major interest to evolutionary and pollination biologists, plant systematists and developmental geneticists. Quantifying this variation has been difficult due to the three-dimensional (3D) complexity of angiosperm flowers. By combining 3D geometric representations of flowers obtained by micro-computed tomography scanning with geometric morphometric methods, well established in zoology and anthropology, floral shape variation can be analyzed quantitatively, allowing for powerful interpretation and visualization of the resulting patterns of variation.
van der Niet
Timotheüs
T
School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, P.Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South Africa. vdniet@gmail.com
Zollikofer
Christoph P E
CP
León
Marcia S Ponce de
MS
Johnson
Steven D
SD
Linder
H Peter
HP
D005075:Biological Evolution; D001901:Botany / Q000379:methods; D035264:Flowers / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000033:anatomy & histology*