The main difference between microevolution, macroevolution and megaevolution is that microevolution is a change that occurs at a level lower than the species; Macroevolution is an evolutionary change that is occurring at or above the species level; while Megaevolution is an evolutionary change that is occurring at the Class, Edge or Division level.

Microevolution versus macroevolution versus megaevolution

Microevolution is a change that occurs at a lower level than the species due to adaptive changes to different environments; where macroevolution is a developmental change that occurs at or above the species level; on the other hand, Megaevolution is an evolutionary change that is occurring at the Class, Edge or Division level. Microevolution has its impact at the genome level between different populations of a species, where macroevolution, evolutionary change occurs at or above the species level, however, in the case of megaevolution, this evolutionary change has its impacts. at the level of leading biological systems to great differences.

Microevolution results in the creation of subspecies or geographic races among different populations during their adaptations to ecosystems; in macroevolution, the resulting ones are new species, genera, families, etc., while we speak of megaevolution, the results found are the formation of new systems of biological organization during the period.

Microevolution is an evolutionary change that occurs over time in response to the environment between populations as they adapt to different environments; Macroevolution is the result of massive evolutionary change that occurs over time, unlike microevolution which is a long time that takes less time than macroevolution, but contrary to both, megaevolution has occurred only a few times in all evolutionary history from the beginning of this earth until now.

Microevolution is driven by natural selection in response to different environments between different species that encompass different changes depending on the ecosystem in which they live; Macroevolution is driven by micromutation, genetic divergence, and adaptive radiation that produce major changes at the macro level, but unlike in both the micro and macro environments, in Megaevolution, the actual driving force is still unknown as these changes occur so rarely and once in millions of years.

Comparative chart

Microevolution is a change that occurs at a lower level than species due to adaptive changes to different environments. Microevolution has its impact at the genome level as the gene pool differs, and the changes are also physically visual. These changes occur between different populations of a species, and these alterations in species are also called intraspecies genetic changes as genetic information is altered or rearranged.

Microevolution generally results in the creation of subspecies or geographic races among different populations during their adaptations to ecosystems. Microevolution is an evolutionary change that occurs on shorter timescales in response to the environment between populations while adapting to different environments. Therefore, this progression occurs in a short scale period and can be tested experimentally; that is why creationists endorse this type of evolution.

Microevolution is driven by natural selection in response to different environments between different species that encompass different changes depending on the ecosystem in which they live. The prime example of this type of evolution is a variety of breakout forms among Galapagos Island finches, those resulting from the industrial revolution in England that led to the color change of spotted moths, the evolution of insect populations to resistance against DDT and the evolution of bacteria. against antibiotics.

What is macroevolution?

Macroevolution is an evolutionary change that occurs at or above the species level. As in this stage of evolution, the change exceeds the level of a single species, and is not still a micro-level change, but becomes a type of evolutionary change that has occurred at or above the species level. , turning it into Macroevolution. The results of this type of evolution are new species, genera, families, etc.

These changes are the result of a massive evolutionary change that occurs over time, as opposed to microevolution, which is a prolonged time that takes less time. Macroevolution is the result of microevolutionary variations; the change here is the period that is required for this large-scale alteration. There are new additions and deletions in the genetic makeup that produce new species or genera.

As there are many barriers to providing experimental evidence along with a large time scale barrier because it takes thousands of years to take place, therefore longer than the micro level of evolution, creationists do not support this type of evolution. Macroevolution is driven by forces such as micro-mutation, genetic divergence, and adaptive radiation that produce major changes that result in macro-level changes. Some of the examples are about how birds evolved from dinosaurs and the evolution of tetrapods from fish.

As in the case of Asian and African elephants, these two species cannot mate due to the changes that their reproductive isolation entails. Macroevolution here describes the difference between these two close and distinct species, which is known as speciation that occurs through various mechanisms.

What is Megaevolution?

Megaevolution is an evolutionary change that is occurring at the level of class, edge, or division. As, at this stage of evolution, the change exceeds the level of species, phylum, and classes, and is not still a macro-level change, but becomes a type of evolutionary change that has occurred at the biological system level. making it Megaevolution. This evolutionary change has its impacts at the level of biological systems that lead to great differences.

When discussing Megaevolution, the results found are the formation of new systems of biological organization during the period. Megaevolution has occurred only a few times in all of evolutionary history from the beginning of this earth until now. Like macroevolution, there are many barriers to providing experimental evidence along with a large time scale barrier because it takes millions of years to take place; that’s why creationists don’t support this kind of evolution.

Contrary to the micro and macro environment, the actual driving force is still unknown, as these changes occur so rarely and once in millions of years. Examples of this type of evolution include the origin of plants, animals, and microorganisms. As scientists believe, the evolution of prokaryotes in history to different eukaryotic cells is the foundation on which these current kingdoms such as Animalia and Plantae are found. The evolution of amphibians from fish, birds, and mammals from reptiles are also examples of this type of evolution.

Key differences

1. Microevolution occurs at a level lower than that of the species due to versatile changes in several or different environments, where macroevolution occurs greater than or equal to the level of the species; while Megaevolution is an evolutionary modification that is happening at the Class, Edge or Division level.
2. Microevolution has its impact at the genome level between different populations of a species; Macroevolutionary impacts at or above the species level; however, in the case of Megaevolution, its impacts are at a biological systems level that lead to large differences.
3. Microevolution results in the creation of geographic subspecies or races among different populations; in Macroevolution, the resulting ones are new species, genera, families, etc .; however, megaevolution results in the formation of new systems of biological organization during the period.
4. Microevolution occurs over time in response to the environment between populations; Microevolution is the result of a massive evolutionary change that occurs over time and takes longer than microevolution as thousands of years pass as this change drives its results, but contrary to these, megaevolution has occurred only a few times. throughout evolutionary history from the beginning. of this land until now.
5. Microevolution is driven by natural selection in response to different environments between different species that encompass different changes depending on the ecosystem in which they live; The macroenvironment in Macroevolution is driven by micro mutation, genetic divergence and adaptive radiation, but the actual driving force in the case of Megaevolution is still unknown as these changes occur so rarely and once in millions of years.