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Towards a standardization of morphological measurement uptake methods in the phylum Kinorhyncha

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Alberto González Casarrubios Diego Cepeda

Complutense University of Madrid Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer
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THE OBSERVER
IMPACT
TOWARDS A STANDARDIZATION OF
MORPHOLOGICAL MEASUREMENT
UPTAKE METHODS IN THE PHYLUM
KINORHYNCHA

ALBERTO GONZÁLEZ-CASARRUBIOS, DIEGO

CEPEDA, MARTA GARCÍA-COBO, FERNANDO
PARDOS & NURIA SÁNCHEZ
Taxonomic
measurements
Why do we measure?

It has always been important for human beings to

measure; from the beginning we have measured
distances, quantities, weights, times...

We compare the entity we want to measure with a

quantity or model; the unit.

Animal sizes
Many biological characteristics are dependent on the
size of the animals.

Most taxonomic descriptions of many phyla contain

measures of total length or/and morphological traits.
Kinorhyncha
measurements
History
Morphological measurements have been traditionally
included in all formal descriptions since the very
beginning.

Zelinka (1928) standarized the segments length;

"measured from the anterior margin of the pachycyclus to
the posterior end of the pectinate fringe."

Higgins (1968) standarized the total trunk length (TL), the

maximum sternal width (MSW), the standard sternal width
(SW), and the length of the spines.
How do you measure?
1. Dorsal, ventral or lateral
2. From the pachycyclus line to the end of the pectinate fringe or
otherwise
3. Differently in Cyclorhagida than in Allomalorhagida or between
different orders

6 2 1 1
Ventral Dorsal Lateral Dorsal &
Ventral
How do you measure?
1. Dorsal, ventral or lateral
2. From the pachycyclus line to the end of the pectinate fringe or
otherwise
3. Differently in Cyclorhagida than in Allomalorhagida or between
different orders

6 2 1 1
Ventral Dorsal Lateral Dorsal &
Ventral

But... does it really matter?

 Observer's experiment
Part 1 Dorsal

Segment 1 Ventral

Echinoderes cantabricus Lateral

Dorsal
Nuria
Segment 5 Ventral

30
Lateral

Dorsal

Segment 7 Ventral

Diego
Lateral
Setaphyes dentatus
Dorsal

Segment 9 Ventral

Lateral

Alberto
 Does the position matter?

Significant differences between most of the different measures (D, V, L)

of the same observer in the studied segments.
Why does the position matter?

OBSERVER'S FAULT?

2 effects: Observer effect & Observer bias

 Why does the position matter?

Observer effect & Observer bias

Observer effect: Disturbance of an observed
system by the act of observation.
 Why does the position matter?

Observer effect & Observer bias

Observer bias: The process of observing and
recording information which includes systematic
discrepancies from the truth.
Almost impossible to eliminate, but we can
reduce it.
Why does the position matter?

JUST OBSERVER'S FAULT?

Must be something else...

Why does the position matter?
The biological shape of a kinorhynch
Why does the position matter?
The biological shape of a kinorhynch
Why does the position matter?
The biological shape of a kinorhynch
 Why does the position matter?
The biological shape of a kinorhynch

The main reason of the differences

between position (D > L > V).

Middle segments with larger differences

than segments 1 & 9.

Allomalorhagids: Differences greater in the

central segments, always smaller than
those found in Cyclorhagida.
Conclusion
It is important that all
segments measurements are
taken:

1. In the same way.

2. In the same position.

We need to standardise.
Conclusion
It is important that all
segments measurements are
taken:

1. In the same way.

2. In the same position.

We need to standardise.

What is the best position?

 Observer's experiment
Part 2

Dorsal

Segment 1 Ventral Signification (p-value)

Echinoderes cantabricus Lateral
Nuria Dorsal

Segment 5 Ventral

30
Lateral

Dorsal

Segment 7 Ventral

Lateral

Diego Setaphyes dentatus

Dorsal

Segment 9 Ventral Standard deviation

Lateral

Alberto
 Setaphyes dentatus
S1 S5 S7 S9

DORSAL

VENTRAL

LATERAL
 Setaphyes dentatus

  DORSAL VENTRAL LATERAL

SEGMENT 1      

SEGMENT 5      
Signification

SEGMENT 7      

SEGMENT 9      

Standard deviation: Less standard deviation in lateral position in every Segment.

 Echinoderes cantabricus
S1 S5 S7 S9

DORSAL

VENTRAL

LATERAL
 Echinoderes cantabricus

  DORSAL VENTRAL LATERAL

SEGMENT 1      

SEGMENT 5      
Signification

SEGMENT 7      

SEGMENT 9      

Standard deviation: Less standard deviation in lateral position in every Segment.

¿?
CONSENSUS
PAPER
Consensus
paper
Who?

Co-authorized by the Workshop attendees & other

Kinorhyncha experts.

How?

Friday, August 19: Discussion about the standarization of

the measurements in the `Phylum.

Submission before October (hopefully).

About what?

Standarization of ALL the measurements within the

Phylum.

Glossary covering all the measures including new ones

(if any).
Measurement
bank
What?
Creation of a common excel.

Webpage to upload all the measurements.

Why?
Common dataset to give comparable results.

Less "missing" data.

How & Where?

You decide :)
 THANK YOU

Alberto González-Casarrubios, Diego Cepeda, Marta

García-Cobo, Fernando Pardos & Nuria Sánchez
2022

@Alberto_Gzlez13

View publication stats

THE OBSERVER
IMPACT
TOWARDS A STANDARDIZATION OF
MORPHOLOGICAL MEASUREMENT
UPTAKE METHODS IN THE PHYLUM
KINORHYNCHA

ALBERTO GONZÁLEZ-CASARRUBIOS, DIEGO

CEPEDA, MARTA GARCÍA-COBO, FERNANDO
PARDOS & NURIA SÁNCHEZ