Abstracts

Abstract

of Vertebrate Morphology have a long and fruitful relationship, supporting and promoting animal morphology-the roots of that relationship date back to 1983, when Carl Gans, at that time editor of the Journal of Morphology, promoted establishing the first Congress of Vertebrate Morphology in Giessen, Germany. We are proud and delighted to continue this relationship now using modern online publishing tools, allowing free access to all those enthusiastic about morphology. Morphology as science is as diverse as life is and the topics of the conference range from macroscopic studies to ultrastructure, and from experimental research in functional morphology to comparative studies exploring the historical perspectives conserved in fossils. Morphology indeed provides two kinds of explanations in biology, functional explanations based on experiments, and historical / evolutionary explanations based on comparative studies. The diversity of topics and explanations provided are integrated by the simple fact that morphology is central to all biological science because it analyzes the structures that ultimately carry the functions of life. The diversity of topics is orchestrated by a breathtaking array of methods. This year's conference, in particular, witnesses a surge of microCT-scanning, 3D-reconstruction and 3D-morphometrics as a means for understanding complex morphologies. Technological advances in non-destructive imaging methods, such as microCT, have been and are undoubtedly beneficial for the field of morphology. The challenge is not to ignore the limited resolution that microCT offers for small vertebrates, hence potential data loss, nor to neglect the time-consuming, yet rewarding contemplative observations associated to low throughput systems. From the first conference in 1983 on, the aim of the congress has been to provide a platform for presentation, discussion and exchange of research on vertebrate morphology for the community of morphologists. Over the 36 years of its existence, the congress has continuously grown, from about 300 participants to now over 800 forecasted for the meeting in Prague. The topics cover all aspects of vertebrate morphology, presented in no less than 20 symposia, around 350 contributed talks and close to 200 posters. For delegates from more than 35 countries, ICVM-12 offers the appropriate setting to share knowledge, interpretations and ideas in an informal and stimulating environment. Achieving this aim is central to ISVM's goal of promoting international collaboration and cooperation in vertebrate morphology and between vertebrate morphology and other biological sciences. On behalf of the International Society of Vertebrate Morphologists, I'm delighted to offer some opening words for this abstract volume for the 12 th International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology to be held in Prague from 21-25 July 2019. This is an exciting time for the field of vertebrate morphology, as shown by the more than 750 abstracts submitted for ICVM12. This is the largest number of abstracts for any ICVM, breaking our prior records from ICVM6 in Jena and ICVM11 in Washington DC, and demonstrates that vertebrate morphology is a vibrant and growing field worldwide! New methods, technologies and the open data movement are enhancing all the subdisciplines within vertebrate morphology, increasing the scope and influence of our research. For example, the now widespread availability of microCT scanning and open microCT data are enriching nearly all subfields, including vertebrate paleontology, evolutionary developmental biology, functional morphology/biomechanics, and evolutionary morphology most broadly. The grassroots #scanAllFishes and US National Science Foundation funded oVert projects aim to CT scan all of vertebrate diversity and make the data freely available to researchers and the general public. These kinds of projects, and there are many other open data projects in our field, are making vertebrate morphology part of the 'Age of Big Data.' Hand in hand have come new statistical and other comparative methods for handling big data in morphology, enhancing the power of open data to transform our field. Ever since the first ICVM was held in Giessen in 1983 with about 300 participants, through the formal founding of the International Society of Vertebrate Morphologists during ICVM4 in Chicago in 1994, and now to ICVM12 with more than 750 scientific presentations , the ICVMs have been important catalysts for innovation and collaboration, and a great time to get together to celebrate all the branches of vertebrate morphology with our colleagues from all over the world. The partnership between the ISVM/ICVM and the Journal of Morphology has always been strong, and we thank Editor Matthias Starck for inviting and editing this volume. We are delighted to have this collaboration continue with the publication of the abstracts for ICVM12 here in our esteemed Journal of Morphology!