What we do:
Our facilities are capable of a wide variety of research focused on documenting and analyzing the size and shape of small specimens, such as fossils, minerals, insects, and arrowheads. The lab functions primarily in two interrelated capacities. The “input” capacity involves capturing digital images of these specimens using specialized cameras, lenses, and filters. When dealing with such small objects, these photographic techniques are called photomacrography, and many use the lab simply to acquire high resolution images of their specimens.
The “output” capacity involves measuring these images to extract data, a practice called morphometrics. It is an amazingly general class of research. For example, CAT scans conducted in medical centers rely on morphometrics procedures to visualize internal anatomy. Morphometrics can also be used for more seemingly mundane procedures, such as figuring out how the shape of an animal has changed during a period of time. For most paleontological and biological research, morphometrics involves measuring the length of various parts of organisms, and then using this data to draw conclusions about how organisms grow, how particular morphologies function, or to study the morphological evolution of fossil animals.
Where to find us:
We are located in room G-3 of the Callaway Building. Stop by anytime!
Click here to access tutorials and examples of student research using the DIMPL.
If you are interested in touring the lab or conducting research in the lab, please contact Dr. Phil Novack-Gottshall, pnovackg_at_westga.edu
The lab is equipped with the following equipment:
- Canon 20D EOS digital camera with EF-S 17-85 mm and EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM lenses
- Photomacrography copy stand (Bogen/Manfrotto) with adjustable lighting, flexible fiber-optic illuminators, RS-80N3 remote switch, and lab jack
- Polarizing filters for digital imaging of low-contrast and low-relief subjects
- High resolution Canon Canoscan 8400F flatbed scanner
- Digital calipers for measuring specimens
- Microcomputers for processing images and conducting quantitative analyses
- Array of morphometrics software for digitizing landmarks, outline and Fourier analysis, thin-plate-spline analysis, and generalized-rotational-fit (superimposition) and Procrustes analysis (including ImageJ, tpsDIG, Optimas, and Morpheus)
- Variety of graphics programs (including Adobe Photoshop CS)
- PAUP for those rare urges to undertake phylogenetic reconstructions
- We recommend R for all your statistical needs
Useful resources:
- Morphometrics Resources at SUNY Stony Brook
- Counting discrete particles with ImageJ
- Amazing digital imaging lab
- Great use of polarizing filters
- Other great advice on polarizing filters
- The Paleobiology Database