Macroevolution

Macroevolution (see also here) refers to a broad view of evolution that encompasses--at a minimum--multiple species. It is not so much a process as a scale of study, and is in contrast with microevolution--evolution within a species. Anti-evolutionists often claim that they accept microevolution, but reject macroevolution (as though macroevolution is some kind of special process that is different from those operating in microevolution).

The journal Evolution: Education and Outreach has a brand new edition that focuses on macroevolution, and contains what look like excellent articles written by experts, for educators.

Below are the articles whose titles got my juices flowing, and that I plan to read. Feel free to explore the rest. The contents of the journal are currently free, but my understanding is that that will change later this year. So get them while you can.

1. Understanding Natural Selection: Essential Concepts and Common Misconceptions

2. The Fish–Tetrapod Transition: New Fossils and Interpretations

3. The Evolution of Marine Reptiles

4. Downsized Dinosaurs: The Evolutionary Transition to Modern Birds

5. From Land to Water: the Origin of Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises

Fact: Anti-evolutionists have long pointed to a lack of transitional fossils from land animals to whales as casting doubt on evolution. For example, Michael Behe once wrote,

"...if random evolution is true, there must have been a large number of transitional forms between the Mesonychid and the ancient whale. Where are they? It seems like quite a coincidence that of all the intermediate species that must have existed between Mesonychid and whale, only species that are very similar to the end species have been found."

6. Evolutionary Transitions in the Fossil Record of Terrestrial Hoofed Mammals

7. Transforming Our Thinking about Transitional Forms

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