The close association between overall body size and body part size, which is referred to as allometry, is widely observed across animals and plants. A classic interpretation of allometry is that this reflects growth regulation and other mechanisms that determine size. With the assumption that these size regulating mechanisms themselves have a limited ability to evolve, it has been proposed that size-related traits are constrained to evolve within a limited morphspace defined by allometric parameters. However, this view has been challenged by recent studies that, for instance, report substantial variation in allometric parameters across closely related species or that artificial selection experiments can alter these parameters. My project at CEES aims to provide new insights in this field of study from a phylogenetic comparative perspective.
In my late lunch talk, I will first briefly present one of the projects conducted during my PhD about brain-body allometry in Lake Tanganyika cichlids. I will explain the phylogenetic comparative methods that I (will) use, and how they can provide novel insights into our understanding of the roles of allometry in the evolution of size-related traits at macroevolutionary time scales. A stronger focus will then be placed on my upcoming project that investigates allometry of antler size in extant and extinct deers. I will mainly present some ideas about how to measure antler size, and I would very much like to discus about your opinions on them.