Size Allometry: Size and Shape Variables with Characterizations of the Lognormal and Generalized Gamma Distributions

Abstract Size-related shape changes in animals are studied within a general framework of size variables and shape vectors. Isometry, or independence of shape and size, is defined as the independence of some (all) shape vector(s) from a particular size variable. With mild restrictions it is shown that isometry is possible with respect to at most one size variable, or in other words that shape will always be related to a variety of size variables. The choice of a size variable is a hitherto neglected, but important, part of an allometric study. The use of functional relationships in allometry is contrasted with the approach developed here. Also, size and shape variables are used in characterizations of the lognormal, gamma and generalized gamma distributions. The results, given in a biological context, are of interest in size and shape studies generally.