Shifting spaces: Which disparity or dissimilarity measurement best summarize occupancy in multidimensional spaces?

ABSTRACT: Multidimensional analysis of traits are now common in ecology and evolution and are based on trait spaces in which each dimension summarizes the observed trait combination (a morphospace or an ecospace). Observations of interest will typically occupy a subset of this space, and researchers will calculate one or more measures to quantify how organisms inhabit that space. In macroevolution and ecology, these measures called disparity or dissimilarity metrics are generalized as space occupancy measures. Researchers use these measures to investigate how space occupancy changes through time, in relation to other groups of organisms, or in response to global environmental changes. However, the mathematical and biological meaning of most space occupancy measures is vague with the majority of wide

SUBMITTER: Guillerme T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7391566 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature