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Home / Equine Research Bank / Naturwissenschaften / Geometric morphometrics as a tool for improving the comparat...
Die Naturwissenschaften2011; 98(7); 583-592; doi: 10.1007/s00114-011-0803-2

Geometric morphometrics as a tool for improving the comparative study of behavioural postures.

Abstract: Describing postures has always been a central concern when studying behaviour. However, attempts to compare postures objectively at phylogenetical, populational, inter- or intra-individual levels generally either rely upon a few key elements or remain highly subjective. Here, we propose a novel approach, based on well-established geometric morphometrics, to describe and to analyse postures globally (i.e. considering the animal's body posture in its entirety rather than focusing only on a few salient elements, such as head or tail position). Geometric morphometrics is concerned with describing and comparing variation and changes in the form (size and shape) of organisms using the coordinates of a series of homologous landmarks (i.e. positioned in relation to skeletal or muscular cues that are the same for different species for every variety of form and function and that have derived from a common ancestor, i.e. they have a common evolutionary ancestry, e.g. neck, wings, flipper/hand). We applied this approach to horses, using global postures (1) to characterise behaviours that correspond to different arousal levels, (2) to test potential impact of environmental changes on postures. Our application of geometric morphometrics to horse postures showed that this method can be used to characterise behavioural categories, to evaluate the impact of environmental factors (here human actions) and to compare individuals and groups. Beyond its application to horses, this promising approach could be applied to all questions involving the analysis of postures (evolution of displays, expression of emotions, stress and welfare, behavioural repertoires…) and could lead to a whole new line of research.
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Publication Date: 2011-05-14 PubMed ID: 21573691DOI: 10.1007/s00114-011-0803-2Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article introduces a new approach, utilizing geometric morphometrics, for describing and comparing behavioural postures at various levels, a method tested on horses. The method aims to improve objectivity and completeness in posture analysis, acknowledging the entirety of an animal’s body rather than just key elements.

Geometric Morphometrics and its Importance

  • Geometric morphometrics is a field that focuses on describing and comparing variations and changes in the shapes and sizes of organisms using a set of coordinates from homologous landmarks.
  • The landmarks used are positioned in areas that remained the same throughout different species, irrespective of their size, form, or function. Examples of these landmarks are the neck, wings, or hand/flipper.
  • The proposed method focuses on an animal’s complete body posture, an aspect that the previous research methods either overlooked or considered with heavy subjectivity.

Applying Geometric Morphometrics on Horses

  • The researchers applied this method to horses to observe and establish behaviours corresponding to different arousal levels.
  • They also used it to test potential impacts of environmental changes on horses’ postures.
  • Posture characterizing enabled categorizing behaviours, evaluating the influence of environmental factors such as human actions, and making comparisons across individuals and groups.

Significance and Potential Applications

  • By successfully applying this objective and encompassing approach to studying the postures of horses, the researchers demonstrated its potential use in broader contexts.
  • This approach could be used in research fields involving analysis of postures, such as the study of display evolution, emotion expression, stress and welfare, behavioural repertoires, and more, opening doors to a new line of research.

Conclusion

  • This novel approach of using geometric morphometrics for posture studies offers an improved, objective, and comprehensive way of analysing behavioural postures at various levels, be it phylogenetical, populational, intra-, or inter-individual.
  • Its successful application on horses, and the ease of potential adaptation in studying posture-related aspects of other species, highlights it as a promising development in behaviour studies.

Cite This Article

APA
Fureix C, Hausberger M, Seneque E, Morisset S, Baylac M, Cornette R, Biquand V, Deleporte P. (2011). Geometric morphometrics as a tool for improving the comparative study of behavioural postures. Naturwissenschaften, 98(7), 583-592. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-011-0803-2

Publication

Die Naturwissenschaften
ISSN: 1432-1904
NlmUniqueID: 0400767
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 98
Issue: 7
Pages: 583-592

Researcher Affiliations

Fureix, Carole
  • Université Rennes, Ethologie Animale et Humaine, Campus de Beaulieu bât., France. carole.fureix@univ-rennes1.fr
Hausberger, Martine
    Seneque, Emilie
      Morisset, Stéphane
        Baylac, Michel
          Cornette, Raphaël
            Biquand, Véronique
              Deleporte, Pierre

                MeSH Terms

                • Animals
                • Behavior, Animal / physiology
                • Biometry / methods
                • Environment
                • Horses / anatomy & histology
                • Posture / physiology

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                Citations

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