Macroevolution

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Macroevolution comprises the evolutionary processes and patterns which occur at and above the species level.[1][2][3] In contrast, microevolution is evolution occurring within the population(s) of a single species. In other words, microevolution is the scale of evolution that is limited to intraspecific (within-species) variation, while macroevolution extends to interspecific (between-species) variation.[4] The evolution of new species (speciation) is an example of macroevolution. This is the common definition for 'macroevolution' used by contemporary scientists.[a][b][c][d][e][f][g][h][i] Although, the exact usage of the term has varied throughout history.[4][10][11]

Macroevolution addresses the evolution of species and higher taxonomic groups (genera, families, orders, etc) and uses evidence from phylogenetics,[5] the fossil record,[9] and molecular biology to answer how different taxonomic groups exhibit different species diversity and/or morphological disparity.[12]

  1. ^ a b Saupe, Erin E.; Myers, Corinne E. (1 April 2021). "Macroevolution". In Nuño de la Rosa, Laura; Müller, Gerd B. (eds.). Chapter: Macroevolution, Book: Evolutionary Developmental Biology - A Reference Guide (1 ed.). Springer, Cham. pp. 149–167. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-32979-6_126. ISBN 978-3-319-32979-6.
  2. ^ a b Stanley, S. M. (1 February 1975). "A theory of evolution above the species level". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 72 (2): 646–50. Bibcode:1975PNAS...72..646S. doi:10.1073/pnas.72.2.646. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 432371. PMID 1054846.
  3. ^ a b Gould, Stephen Jay (2002). The structure of evolutionary theory. Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-674-00613-5. OCLC 47869352.
  4. ^ a b c Hautmann, Michael (2020). "What is macroevolution?". Palaeontology. 63 (1): 1–11. Bibcode:2020Palgy..63....1H. doi:10.1111/pala.12465. ISSN 0031-0239.
  5. ^ a b Rolland, J.; Henao-Diaz, L.F.; Doebeli, M.; et al. (10 July 2023). "Conceptual and empirical bridges between micro- and macroevolution" (PDF). Nature Ecology & Evolution. 7 (8): 1181–1193. doi:10.1038/s41559-023-02116-7. ISSN 2397-334X.
  6. ^ Jablonski, D. (3 June 2017). "Approaches to Macroevolution: 1. General Concepts and Origin of Variation". Springer, Evolutionary Biology. 44 (4): 427–450. doi:10.1007/s11692-017-9420-0. PMC 5661017. PMID 29142333.
  7. ^ Jablonski, D. (24 October 2017). "Approaches to Macroevolution: 2. Sorting of Variation, Some Overarching Issues, and General Conclusions". Springer, Evolutionary Biology. 44 (4): 451–475. doi:10.1007/s11692-017-9434-7. PMC 5661022. PMID 29142334.
  8. ^ "Evolution at different scales". Understanding Evolution. UCMP, Berkely.
  9. ^ a b "Macroevolution in the Fossil Record?". GEOL331 Lecture Notes. University of Maryland Department of Geology.
  10. ^ a b "What is Macroevolution?". Digital Atlas of Ancient Life. PRI.
  11. ^ Filipchenko, J. (1927). Variabilität und Variation. Berlin: Borntraeger.
  12. ^ Gregory, T.R. (25 June 2008). "Evolutionary Trends". Evo Edu Outreach. 1 (3): 259–273. doi:10.1007/s12052-008-0055-6. ISSN 1936-6434.


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