Makroevolúció

Makroevolúció refers to evolutionary change at or above the level of species. It encompasses the large-scale patterns of evolution, such as the origin of new groups of organisms (speciation), the extinction of species, and the long-term diversification of life. In contrast to microevolution, which deals with changes in allele frequencies within populations, makroevolúció focuses on the accumulation of microevolutionary changes over vast stretches of geological time. Key phenomena studied under makroevolúció include adaptive radiation, where a single lineage diversifies into many new forms, and mass extinctions, which dramatically reshape the biosphere by eliminating a large percentage of species. The fossil record is a primary source of evidence for makroevolúció, providing a timeline of life's history and documenting the appearance and disappearance of countless organisms. While the mechanisms driving microevolution, such as mutation, gene flow, genetic drift, and natural selection, are also considered fundamental to makroevolúció, the latter often involves the action of these forces over extended periods and in novel environmental contexts. Debates within makroevolúció often revolve around the relative importance of gradualism versus punctuated equilibrium in evolutionary history, and the role of macroevolutionary patterns in shaping the diversity of life observed today.