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 definition (and its variations) is the most common usage found in the scientific literature,[a][b][c][d][e][f] and online educational resources.[g][h][i] The scientific understanding of macroevolution (and evolution in general) has significantly changed overtime. Furthermore, macroevolution is a broad subject, one that is researched by scientists from various different fields. For these reasons, the exact usage of the term has varied throughout history and from one author to another.[4][10][11]

Within microevolution, the evolutionary process of changing heritable characteristics (e.g. changes in allele frequencies) is described by population genetics, with mechanisms such as mutation, natural selection, and genetic drift. However, the scope of evolution can be expanded to higher scales where different phenomena take place which are not observed within microevolution. Macroevolutionary mechanisms are provided to explain these.[2] For example, speciation can be discussed in terms of the ‘modes’ or how speciation occurs (e.g. sympatric vs allopatric); the tempo at which species change genetically and/or morphologically (e.g. phyletic gradualism vs punctuated equilibrium); and the causes of speciation.[1]

Further questions can be asked regarding the evolution of species and higher taxonomic groups (genera, families, orders, etc) across geography and vast spans of geological time. For example: (1) How different species are related to each other via common ancestry (phylogenetics); (2) The rates of evolutionary change and across time.[5] (3) The impacts and causes of major events observed in the fossil record, such as mass extinctions and evolutionary diversifications.[9] (4) Why different species or high taxonomic groups (even with similar ages) exhibit different rates of morphological change, survival/extinction rates, species diversity, and/or morphological disparity. (5) The observation of long-term trends in evolution (e.g. passive vs driven) and whether these are directed in some way (e.g. twoards complexity or simplicity).[12] (6) How the distinctive and of complext traits, which differentiate species and higher taxa from another, have evolved.

  1. ^ a b c 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. ISBN 978-3-319-32979-6.
  2. ^ a b c 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: 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: 427–450. doi:10.1007/s11692-017-9420-0. PMC 5661017.
  7. ^ Jablonski, D. (24 October 2017). "Approaches to Macroevolution: 2. Sorting of Variation, Some Overarching Issues, and General Conclusions". Springer, Evolutionary Biology. 44: 451–475. doi:10.1007/s11692-017-9434-7. PMC 5661022.
  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: 259–273. doi:10.1007/s12052-008-0055-6. ISSN 1936-6434.


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