Macro Evolutionary Patterns

Macro evolution is the process of large-scale evolutionary changes, including the appearance of new species, emerging over long periods, that shapes the diversity of life on Earth. It is the sum of microevolutionary processes, and studies of macroevolutionary processes have revealed critical insights into how species diversify and new adaptive traits emerge. Macroevolutionary patterns are key to understanding the history of life on Earth and predicting future patterns of biological change. As such, they have important implications for fields such as conservation biology and medicine.