Makroevolúcia

Makroevolúcia refers to evolutionary change at or above the level of species. It encompasses the origin of new species, the extinction of existing ones, and the broad patterns of evolution observed over geological timescales. This contrasts with microevolution, which describes changes within populations or species, such as shifts in allele frequencies. Makroevolutionary processes are the cumulative result of microevolutionary changes over vast periods.

Key phenomena studied within makroevolution include speciation, the formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution. It also involves the study of adaptive radiation, where a single lineage diversifies into multiple species that occupy different ecological niches. Extinction, the complete disappearance of a species, is another fundamental aspect of makroevolution, as it shapes the diversity of life on Earth. Furthermore, makroevolution investigates macroevolutionary trends, such as the evolution of complex structures, increasing body size, or the development of new body plans over millions of years.

The evidence for makroevolution comes from various scientific disciplines, including paleontology, which provides fossil records of past life forms; comparative anatomy, which reveals homologous and analogous structures; embryology, which shows developmental similarities; and molecular biology, which offers insights into genetic relationships between organisms. By analyzing these diverse lines of evidence, scientists reconstruct the history of life and understand the large-scale patterns of evolutionary change.