MACROEVOLUTION AND THE

PROCESS OF SPECIATION
 Macroevolution focuses on the formation of
new species (speciation) and on the evolutionary
relationship between groups of species. The term
species is usually defined as a population that is
capable of interbreeding, and producing viable,
fertile offspring.
 Speciation is a process, it can occur at
various rates. Speciation trough the process of
adaptive change to the environment as proposed
in Charles Darwins Origin of Species (1859) is
generally considered to occur at slow rate. In this
model, speciation happens as organisms become
more adapted to their environment. Sometimes,
however, speciation can occur quite rapidly
CONTINENTAL DRIFT
THEORY
 In the time since the appearance of the
first mammals, the earth itself has changed
considerably. During the past 200 milolion years, the
position of the continents has shifted through
continental drift. This process accounts for the re-
arrangement of the adjacent land masses through the
theory of plate tectonics. According to the theory, the
continents move their positions as the edges of the
underlying plates are created or destroyed.
The earliest primate like mammals came into being
about 65 million years ago when a new, mild climate
favored the spread of dense tropical and subtropical
forests over much of the earth. The change in climate
and in habitat favored mammal diversisication
including the evolutionary development of arboreal
mammals from which primates evolved.
 Human and their ancestors are distinct among the hominoids
for BIPEDALISM-a special form of locomotion on two feet. Larger brains
and bipedal locomotion constitute the most striking differences between
contemporary humans and our closest primate relatives.
Tracing the roots of evolution is done by determining whether a
fossilized hominoid is bipedal.
Ways on determining Bipedalism: (Haviland, Prins, Walrath, and McBride,
2008)
1.Looking at t he curves
2.Of the spine
3.Shape of the pelvis
4.Shape of the footbones, etc.
 As far as the research can tell, humans
earliest ancestors hailed from the australopithecines
which were bipedals but had small brain-size in
proportion to their bodies. It is theorized that from one
species of Australopithecus , the Homo habilis
evolved. Homo habilis had smaller teeth and larger
brains. Following th homo habilis in the line of human
evolution was the Hpmp erectus. With an even larger
brain, and was more able to adapt to the environment
and provide solutions to problems of survival.
The Paleolithic, or Old Stone Age, is divided into three
divisions, each with a distinct tradition of tool making.
The divisions are labeled according to the layers of
ground the tools were found in:
a. The Lower Paleolithic
b. The Middle Paleolithic
c. The Upper Paleolithic
THE LOWER PALEOLITHIC

was the time that marked the Home erectus

existence. It was during this time that hand ax and other
stone tools were created. Tools during this period were
made by chipping off flakes from a core of rock, from
different angles.
THE MIDDLE PALEOLITHIC

was the period of existence of the Homo

sapiens. Tools from this period allowed humans to
be alleviated from anatomical labor such as prying,
liftinf, holding, and pulling. Further specialization
of tools was done by creating uniform flakes of
rock and detailing each one for particular task.
THE UPPER PALEOLITHIC
was the period of existence of the Homo
sapiens sapiens. The most distinct tool developed
during this time was the blade which was longer
than a flake of rock. A further increase in
specialized tools was evident during this time, and
reflects both an increase In population and the
exploration of new economic activities.