Impact of the Lognormal Distribution on Studies of Phenotypic Variation and Evolutionary Rates

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Abstract
Both normal and lognormal statistics describe the distribution of vertebral numbers in local samples of lower vertebrates. When samples from populations possessing different means are compared, however, standard deviations of vertebral counts are correlated with mean counts, a relationship predicted by the lognormal, but not the normal distribution. Fit to the lognormal requires recognition in significance testing, necessitates log transformation of variables in studies of evolutionary rates, and predicts exponential rates of character divergence under constant selective pressure.

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