Macroevolution (Noun)
Meaning
Evolution on a large scale extending over geologic era and resulting in the formation of new taxonomic groups.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- Macroevolution is thought to have played a key role in the sudden appearance of diverse animal body plans during the Cambrian explosion.
- Macroevolution often occurs in response to significant environmental changes that exert strong selective pressures on species.
- One of the most well-studied examples of macroevolution is the transition from fish to tetrapods that occurred during the Devonian period.
- Macroevolution can result in the formation of new higher taxonomic groups, such as the emergence of mammals, birds, or reptiles.
- The fossil record of the Burgess Shale provides valuable insights into the macroevolutionary processes that shaped the early history of life on Earth.