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Live Online Course – 12th Edition

Geometric Morphometrics in R

December 10th-18th, 2026

Geometric Morphometrics in R - Argentina

Course Overview

Concepts in geometric morphometrics will be taught using a series of original data sets and working in R for solving a series of tasks. The course will start with an introduction to R and will rapidly go into shape analysis with measurements, landmark data and outlines. Participants are welcome to bring their own data and problems so that we may find R solutions.

This is not an introductory course to Geometric Morphometrics, therefore basic knowledge of Multivariate StatisticsR and Geometric Morphometric is recommended in order to take this course.

Places are limited to 16 participants.

Programme

1. An Introduction to R / Image Processing / Organizing Morphometric Data.

1.1. Some Basics in R.

1.1.1. The R Environment.

1.1.2. R objects, Assigning, Indexing.

1.1.3. Generating Data in R.

1.1.4. 2D and 3D Plots in R; Interacting with the Graphs.

1.2. Organizing Data for Morphometrics.

1.2.1. Data-frame, Array and List.

1.2.2. Converting and Coercing Objects.

1.2.3. Read and Write Morphometric Data in R.

1.3. Image Processing in R.

1.3.1. Reading Various Image Files.

1.3.2. Obtaining Image Properties.

1.3.3. Modifying Image Properties: Contrast, Channels, Saturation Directly from R or by Interfacing R with Imagemagick.

1.4. Simple Tests, Simple Linear Modelling, Alternatives to Linear Modelling, an example using traditional morphometrics.

1.4.1. Defining size and shape using PCA and log-shape ratio approaches.

1.4.2. Getting stats and test outputs.

1.4.3. Testing assumptions of linear modelling.

1.4.4. Testing for allometry and isometry.

1.4.5. Solutions when assumptions of linear modelling are not met.

2. Landmark data.

2.1. Acquiring Landmark Data in R.

2.2. Plotting Landmark Configurations in 2 and in 3D.

2.2.1. Using Different Symbols and Setting the Graphical Parameters.

2.2.2. Labeling Landmarks.

2.3. Geometric Transformation with Landmark Configurations.

2.3.1. Translation.

2.3.2. Scaling using Baseline or Centroid Size.

2.3.3. Rotation.

2.4. Superimposing and Comparing Two Shapes.

2.4.1. Baseline Superimposition.

2.4.2. Ordinary Least Squares Superimposition.

2.4.3. Resistant Fit.

2.5. Representing Shape Differences.

2.5.1. Plotting Superimposed Shape with Wireframe.

2.5.2. Lollipop Diagrams and Vector Fields.

2.5.3. Thin Plate Splines and Warped Shapes.

2.6. Superimposing More Than Two Shapes.

2.6.1. Baseline Registration.

2.6.2. Full Generalized Procrustes Analysis.

2.6.3. Partial Generalized Procrustes Analysis.

2.6.4. Dimensionality of Superimposed Coordinates.

2.7. Exploring Shape Variation and Testing Hypotheses.

2.7.1. PCA.

2.7.2. Multivariate Linear Modelling (Multivariate Regression and         MANOVA).

2.7.3. Allometry free approaches (Burnaby correction).

2.7.4. Linear discriminant and Canonical Analysis.

3. Outline Data.

3.1. Acquiring outline Data in R.

3.2. Fourier Analysis.

3.2.1. Principles.

3.2.2. Fourier Analysis of the Tangent Angle.

3.2.3. Radius Fourier Analysis.

3.2.4. Elliptic Fourier Analysis.

3.2.5. Reduction of Shape Variables.

3.2.6. Statistical Analysis of Shape Variation with Fourier Analysis.

       3.2.6.1. Exploring Shape Variation and Testing Hypotheses.

       3.2.6.2. PCA.

       3.2.6.3. Multivariate Linear Modelling (Multivariate Regression and MANOVA).

                         3.2.6.4. Canonical Analysis.

3.3. Combining Landmarks and Curves.

3.3.1. Hybrid Methods between Fourier and Procrustes Analysis.

3.3.2. Sliding Semi Landmarks.

3.4. Solutions for Open Curves.

4. Specific Applications.

4.1. Testing Measurement Error.

4.2. Partitional Clustering.

4.2.1. K-means, Partition Around Medoids.

4.2.2. Mclust.

4.2.3. Combining Genetic, Geographic and Morphometric Data.

4.3. Modularity / Integration Studies.

4.3.1. Two-block Partial Least Squares.

4.3.2. Testing Among Various Sets of Modules.

4.4.Fluctuating Asymmetry and Directional Asymmetry.

4.4.1. Inter-Individual and Intra-Individual Variation.

4.4.2. Object and Matching Symmetry.

4.5.Bending Energy, Uniform and Non-uniform Shape Variation.

Assumed Background

Graduate or postgraduate degree in any Life Sciences discipline.

Knowledge of Multivariate Statistics, R and Geometric Morphometrics.

Participants that are not familiar with the R environment are strongly recommended to read the book R for beginners and practice before the course, or to take the course Introduction to R. Participants who are not familiar with Geometric Morphometrics are recommended to take first the course Geometric Morphometrics for Beginners.

Software

All participants must bring their own computer (Windows, Macintosh, Linux) with recent versions or R and RStudio installed.

Dates & Schedule

Online live sessions on December 10th, 11th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th, 2026.

From 12:00 to 17:00 (Madrid time zone).

Total course hours: 40 (35 hours of online live lessons, plus 5 hours of participants working on their own).

This course is equivalent to 2 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System). The recognition of ECTS by other institutions depends on each university or school.

Format

In the live sessions we will combine online lectures with hands-on computational exercises, in R.

Live sessions will be recorded. However, attendance to the live sessions is required to obtain the course certificate.

This course will be delivered in English.

Instructor

Julien Claude instructor for Transmitting Science

Dr. Julien Claude
Institut des Sciences de l’Évolution de Montpellier
France

Testimonials on this course

Geometric Morphometrics in R (onsite) – 3rd edition.

“The course was excellent. The week spent under the guidance of Dr. Julien Claude crystal cleared the concepts of using R in GM. The location and ambience of the course was ideal for such engaging studies. There were participants from diverse field of studies and the best part of the course was that there was ample time to work with our own data and deal with its problems. Dr. Claude always encouraged us to ask questions and was happy to help with our doubts. The course was very well organised, well managed and the food was fantastic!! It is really a course worth to be taken!!!”

Sanjukta Chakravorti former participant at Transmitting Science

Geometric Morphometrics in R (onsite) -4th edition.

“I loved that this course really worked directly with R and had lots of good scripts and example code to work with. Thank you for your efforts in organizing this.”

Geometric Morphometrics in R (onsite) – 6th edition.

“Congratulations, the course was an excellent combination of a great teacher, a very nice human group and delicious coffee breaks. I learned a lot!”

Registration Fees

  • Course Fee
  • Early bird (until October 31st, 2026):
  • 495 €
    (396 € for Ambassador Institutions)
  • Regular (after October 31st, 2026):
  • 565 €
    (452 € for Ambassador Institutions)
  • Prices include VAT.
    After registration you will receive confirmation of your acceptance on the course.
    Payment is not required during registration. Check discounts here.

Registration

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Organiser

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Collaborators

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