Quantitative morphometric methods in diatom research

Abstract

Morphometric methods have been used in diatom research for decades. We present a review of the history of usage of morphometric methods of outline shape analysis, pattern recognition, and landmarkbased analysis. In addition, we present how morphometric methods are important in diatom taxonomy and classifi cation and what connections exist between morphometric methods and biologically meaningful results. Next, we present some details about calculating shape descriptors and using them in analysis of shape variation, the issues to be aware of, and what such results mean when defi ning shape groups as species groups. Finally, we provide a glimpse of the future in using morphometric methods in diatom research.