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Macroevolution – myth or reality ? |
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| Authors: | P. H. GREENWOOD D.Sc F. I. Biol. Pres. L.S. |
| Affiliation: | Department of Zoology, British Museum (Natural History), London |
| Abstract: | Current concepts of macroevolution–the origin and diversification of higher taxonomic categories-are reviewed. A reductionist hypothesis, seen in the light of models based on extant species, seems to be corroborated. There appears to be no reason to think that macroevolution is a natural phenomenon distinct from a speciation event giving rise to a new phyletic lineage. Neidier is it necessary to postulate any quantum element in that speciation event. |
| Keywords: | macroevolution microevolution punctuated equilibrium phylogeny speciation adaptive radiation classification species selection |