GLY 558LEC - Macroevolution

Macroevolution seeks to understand and explain long-term (millions of years) evolutionary patterns at or above the species level, which cannot be explained by examining variation among individuals or populations. This includes selection among species, selectivity of extinctions, structural constraints on innovation, and diversity dynamics of lineages. This course draws data from both the fossil record, our best source of long-term evolutionary patterns, as well as modern ecological studies to develop a deeper understanding of our modern world’s diversity and history. Students are presumed to have prior understanding of the fossil record, genetics, or ecology.

Credits: 3