Atlas of Shapes



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The Atlas of Shapes is a curated collection of 51 geometric models used to describe the morphology of phytoplankton cells and colonies. These shapes are classified into Simple and Complex shape categories, each with a corresponding computational model to calculate cell surface area and biovolume based on linear dimensions and formulae.

In addition, a comprehensive csv file with the Taxa-Shape List is available, linking almost 4000 taxa to their respective geometric shapes, enabling large-scale trait analyses and standardized morphological data integration across studies.

SIMPLE SHAPES
Spherical
Elongated
Half Shapes
Other Simple Shapes
COMPLEX SHAPES
Elongated
Double Shapes
Spherical-Elongated
Globular
Help us improve the Atlas of Shapes!
If you notice errors, inconsistencies, or wish to contribute by expanding the shape list or species–shape associations, please contact us at: lifewatchitaly@gmail.com