Geometric morphometrics as a tool for evaluating Eublastoidea morphological variation

Geometric morphometrics facilitates the quantification and visualization of variation in shape and proportion through the comparison of homologous features. Eublastoidea, a Paleozoic echinoderm clade with a conservative body plan, is an ideal group for morphometric analysis because their plate junctions are homologous and identifiable on all species. Eublastoids have previously been grouped taxonomically by generalized shape types (e.g., globose). These shapes are often used in taxonomic descriptions and as characters in phylogenetic analyses. The underlying homology of these broad shape types has never been explored. Herein we apply the first comprehensive use of 3D geometric morphometrics on fossil echinoderms to investigate taxonomic assignments, temporal distribution, and whether the varying proportions of skeletal elements that produce the gross thecal morphology are distinguishable. Taxonomic assignments specifically at the ordinal and family level show varying amounts of overlap ..., Specimens were collected from the University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology - Invertebrate Paleontology range. Specimens were imaged and 3D models were constructed utilizing photogrammetry. Once 3D models were produced, fixed landmarks were placed using R. Data was then analyzed using R software, producing a GPA, PCAs, running an ANOVA and pairwise statistical analysis. Additional data was provided by Dr. Michael Foote for additional comparisons. Foote's data was also analyzed in R software., , # Geometric Morphometrics as a tool for Evaluating Eublastoidea Morphological Variation

1. **Author Information**
A. Principal Investigator Contact Information
Name: Lian Anderson
Institution: University of Michigan
Address: Ann Arbor, MI USA
Email: [[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail])

B. Associate or Co-investigator Contact Information
Name: Jennifer Bauer
Institution: University of Michigan
Address: Ann Arbor, MI USA
Email: [[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail])

## SHARING/ACCESS INFORMATION

1. Publication that uses the data: Anderson, L.C., Bauer, J.E. (2024). Exploring morphospace occupation by investigating underlying skeletal elements. Paleobiology.

2. Data derived from additional source: [https://geosci.uchicago.edu/~foote/MORPHDAT/BLASTOID_DATA.TXT](https://geosci.uchicago.edu/~foote/MORPHDAT/BLASTOID_DATA.TXT)

3. Recommended citation for this dataset: Anderson, Lian; Bauer, Jennifer (2024). Geometric morphometr...