Hello Morphomet group, I am trying to conduct comparisons of the structure of fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in squamate skulls in MorphoJ, both to FA structure in other taxa and to symmetric shape covariance within the same taxa. I am using matrix correlation with Mantel test for the comparisons. Normally, I believe it is correct to use the Ind*Side covariance matrix produced directly from Procrustes ANOVA for the matrix correlations. But I am also trying to do this with independent contrasts, which is where confusion starts.
To create a phylogenetically-independent covariance matrix of FA I have been mapping FA scores of shape data after Procrustes ANOVA onto a phylogeny and then constructing a covariance matrix from the independent contrasts. What confuses me is: 1. What FA scores are and is it meaningful to construct covariance matrices from them? 2. Why Morphoj gives options to construct covariance matrices using symmetric or asymmetric components from the independent contrasts of FA scores? (I have tried both and found they are different) 3. Is the asymmetric component of shape (in MorphoJ) directional or fluctuating asymmetry? In one paper (Fig. 6), <http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/650372> Klingenburg states it is the latter, whereas I always assumed it is the former I hope this all makes some sense! Best, Alex Marshall MSci Biology student University College London [email protected] -- MORPHMET may be accessed via its webpage at http://www.morphometrics.org To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected].
