A SIMPLE METHOD FOR VISUALIZATION OF INFLUENTIAL LANDMARKS WHEN USINGEUCLIDEAN DISTANCE MATRIX ANALYSIS

Euclidean distance matrix analysis (EDMA) differs from most other morp hometric methods for the analysis of landmark coordinate data in that it is coordinate-system invariant. However, strict adherence to coordi nate-system invariance (for both biological and statistical reasons) i ntroduces some difficulty in using graphic aids for the analysis and i nterpretation of EDMA results. We present a simple and effective graph ic method to help localize important differences in form, growth, or s hape by identifying ''influential'' landmarks. Examples are presented using simulated data and real data involving both children with cranio facial dysmorphologies and sexual dimorphism in adult Macaca fascicula ris. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.