PLAIN-LANGUAGE SUMMARY

Paleontologists often work with large amounts of information, making it necessary to use statistical and other computer-based methods for investigating the data and testing hypotheses. We have developed an easy-to-use software package for this purpose, containing a large number of methods for analysis of different types of data such as the distribution of fossils in space and time and measurements on fossil specimens. Many of these methods are specific to biology and paleontology and are not found in standard statistical software. The package also includes fourteen example data files and case studies, making it useful as an educational tool for paleontology and biology students.