“The field of macroevolution embraces the excitement of seeking an understanding of the breadth of life” -Levinton

Taxonomic-based definition 1.“Evolution above the species level” 2.Between species evolution (as opposed to within species, which is microevolution)

Splitting vs. Budding SB Change in both descendants Change in one descendant

Bottleneck Effect Extreme form of Genetic Drift. Entire population goes through this. X Z X B B Z Z X X X B X X Z X B B Z Z X X X B X B B B B B B B B B B B B B B

Founders Effect Extreme form of Genetic Drift X Z X B B Z Z X X X B X X Z X B B Z Z X X X B X B B X X Z X Z X X X Z Z Z Z X

Founders Effect

BONOBO DISTRIBUTION

What is Macroevolution? Macroevolutionary Questions: Big Question 1: How do we establish evolutionary relationships among taxa? Specific: Who are humans’ closest relatives?

Why are there still chimps? Science does not say we descended from modern chimps Does say humans and modern chimps descended from a common ancestor The common ancestor probably had some characteristics of both species.

Macroevolutionary Questions Big Question 2. What processes/factors regulate the rates of evolutionary change? Specific: Do mice evolve faster than elephants?

Macroevolutionary Questions: Specific: Why did dinosaurs become extinct? Big Question 3: What environmental changes regulated the timing of evolutionary radiations and extinctions?

Macroevolutionary Questions Big Question 4. Do extinctions affect the evolution of other groups? Specific: Did the Extinction of dinosaurs allow the radiation of Mammals?

Macroevolutionary Questions Big Question 5 – What ecological processes regulate diversity? Specific: Did ecology contribute to the “Cambrian explosion”?