@article{fdi:010090115,
  title = {{M}orphological variability or inter-observer bias ? {A} methodological toolkit to improve data quality of multi-researcher datasets for the analysis of morphological variation},
  author = {{S}chussler, {D}. and {B}lanco, {M}. {B}. and {G}uthrie, {N}. {K}. and {S}garlata, {G}. {M}. and {D}ammhahn, {M}. and {E}rnest, {R}. and {E}vasoa, {M}. {R}. and {H}asiniaina, {A}. and {H}ending, {D}. and {J}an, {F}. and le {P}ors, {B}. and {M}iller, {A}. and {O}livieri, {G}. and {R}akotonanahary, {A}. {N}. and {R}akotondranary, {S}. {J}. and {R}akotondravony, {R}. and {R}alantoharijaona, {T}. and {R}amananjato, {V}. and {R}andrianambinina, {B}. and {R}aoelinjanakolona, {N}. {N}. and {R}asoazanabary, {E}. and {R}asoloarison, {R}. {M}. and {R}asolofoson, {D}. {W}. and {R}asoloharijaona, {S}. and {R}asolondraibe, {E}. and {R}oberts, {S}. {H}. and {T}eixeira, {H}. and van {E}lst, {T}. and {J}ohnson, {S}. {E}. and {G}anzhorn, {J}. {U}. and {C}hikhi, {L}. and {K}appeler, {P}. {M}. and {L}ouis, {E}. and {S}almona, {J}ordi and {R}adespiel, {U}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{O}bjectives: {T}he investigation of morphological variation in animals is widely used in taxonomy, ecology, and evolution. {U}sing large datasets for meta-analyses has dramatically increased, raising concerns about dataset compatibilities and biases introduced by contributions of multiple researchers.{M}aterials and {M}ethods: {W}e compiled morphological data on 13 variables for 3073 individual mouse lemurs ({C}heirogaleidae, {M}icrocebus spp.) from 25 taxa and 153 different sampling locations, measured by 48 different researchers. {W}e introduced and applied a filtering pipeline and quantified improvements in data quality ({S}hapiro-{F}rancia statistic, skewness, and excess kurtosis). {T}he filtered dataset was then used to test for genus-wide sexual size dimorphism and the applicability of {R}ensch's, {A}llen's, and {B}ergmann's rules.{R}esults: {O}ur pipeline reduced inter-observer bias (i.e., increased normality of data distributions). {I}nter-observer reliability of measurements was notably variable, highlighting the need to reduce data collection biases. {A}lthough subtle, we found a consistent pattern of sexual size dimorphism across {M}icrocebus, with females being the larger (but not heavier) sex. {S}exual size dimorphism was isometric, providing no support for {R}ensch's rule. {V}ariations in tail length but not in ear size were consistent with the predictions of {A}llen's rule. {B}ody mass and length followed a pattern contrary to predictions of {B}ergmann's rule.{D}iscussion: {W}e highlighted the usefulness of large multi-researcher datasets for testing ecological hypotheses after correcting for inter-observer biases. {U}sing genus-wide tests, we outlined generalizable patterns of morphological variability across all mouse lemurs. {T}his new methodological toolkit aims to facilitate future large-scale morphological comparisons for a wide range of taxa and applications.},
  keywords = {{A}llen's rule ; {B}ergmann's rule ; cryptic species ; {M}icrocebus ; sexual size ; dimorphism ; {MADAGASCAR}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}merican {J}ournal of {B}iological {A}nthropology},
  numero = {},
  pages = {[19 p.]},
  ISSN = {2692-7691},
  year = {2023},
  DOI = {10.1002/ajpa.24836},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010090115},
}