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Cladistics/Morphometrics Symposium



Below are details of a symposium on cladistics, morphometrics, and evolutionary theory to be held in a few weeks (Aug. 22, 1997) at Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario (near Niagara Falls/Buffalo).  Speakers include Dan Brooks, Niles Eldredge, and Richard Fortey.  The symposium is associated with the 2nd International Trilobite Conference - although examples and case studies will be mainly trilobite oriented, several of the speakers are not trilobite specialists and the focus of the talks will be on methods, problems, and approaches of interest to all paleobiologists.

One day registration for this symposium is inexpensive (Can$20/about US$15) and payable on the day, and accommodation is available in the Brock University Conference Centre (bookings must be received at least a week in advance - i.e. by Aug. 15; hotel accommodation is also possible - email for info).  St. Catharines is about one hour's travel from Buffalo, and is serviced by shuttle buses from both Buffalo and Toronto International Airports.

If you'd like abstracts of any or all of the talks, or have any questions about the symposium, please email Jon Adrain (j.adrain@nhm.ac.uk).

If you'd like more registration or travel information, please email the conference chair, Steve Westrop (swestrop@spartan.ac.BrockU.CA). [after Aug. 8, email Mike Cuggy (cuggymb@mcmail.CIS.McMaster.CA)]


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The programme:

Phylogeny, Morphometrics, and Trilobite Systematics

August 22, 1997

Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada

This one day symposium is intended as a synthetic review of current theory and methods in systematic paleobiology, with emphasis on the integration of cladistic and morphometric approaches, and with examples drawn from a single major invertebrate group, the trilobites.  Topics covered will include an introduction to basic concepts and assumptions, details of the standard methods with specific case studies, and the ways in which cladistics and morphometrics may be used to address major problems in evolutionary paleobiology.

9.05-9.40  Phylogenetics: A Primer of Phylogenetic Procedures - Daniel R. Brooks, Centre for Comparative Biology and Biodiversity, Department of Zoology, University of Toronto

Adrain 9.40-10.15 Characters, Parsimony, and Ontogenetic Data - Jonathan M. Adrain, Department of Palaeontology, Natural History Museum

10.15-10.50 Cladistic Methods in Biogeography: Applications to Palaeontology - Gregory D. Edgecombe, Centre for Evolutionary Research, Australian Museum

coffee 10.50-11.05

11.05-11.40 Cladistics, Diversity and Taxonomic Turnover - Stephen R. Westrop, Department of Earth Sciences, Brock University

11.40-12.15 - Phylogenetic Concepts in the History of Trilobite Classification - Richard A. Fortey, Department of Palaeontology, Natural History Museum

Lunch 12.15-1.15

1.15-1.50 Trilobites, Species, Higher Taxa--and the "Sloshing Bucket" Model of Evolution - Niles Eldredge, Department of Invertebrates, American Museum of Natural History

1.50-2.25 Using Phylogenies to Analyze the Tempo of Evolution - Bruce S. Lieberman, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard Universty

2.25-3.00 Morphometric Approaches to Trilobite Paleobiology - Nigel C. Hughes, Cincinnati Museum Center;

coffee 3.00-3.15

3.15-3.50 Morphological Integration and Phenotypic Variability in Trilobites - Loren H. Smith, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California

3.50-4.25 Phylogenetic Analysis of Ontogenetic Shape Transformations - Miriam Zelditch, University of Michigan

4.25-5.00 The Role of Databases in Trilobite Paleontology - Roger Kaesler, Paleontological Institute, University of Kansas

reception in Brock Faculty Club 5 pm -7 pm

____________________________________________________________________
Dr. Jonathan M. Adrain                  j.adrain@nhm.ac.uk
Department of Palaeontology             Tel +44 171 938 9444
The Natural History Museum              Fax +44 171 938 9277
Cromwell Road
London SW7 5BD                          
United Kingdom                          
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