Evolution question

[virtualmaster999]

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Hi all!

Quick question about evolution (just wanna make sure I got this right)

Evolution can occur between species and populations. But why is the smallest unit natural selection can CHANGE populations, and not species? Or do I have something wrong here?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thank you in advance!!

 

[Vivalarevolution]

Evolution works at a population level and new species can eventually emerge from that.

 

[virtualmaster999]

Evolution works at a population level and new species can eventually emerge from that.

So the smallest unit of evolution is population then (evolution only occurs in populations, not species)? And same for natural selection?

 

[DetermineDent]

Evolution works on a population level while natural selection acts on individuals

 

[virtualmaster999]

Hmm Im a bit confused. See, in Ferralis' notes, it says evolution occurs in populations, species, and groups

I know Natural Selection's smallest unit it can change is population, while the smallest unit it can ACT on is an individual's phenotype.

But would species not go into either category i.ie there is no "evolution of species" only evolution of populations?

 

[virtualmaster999]

See, I'm confused because this came up in a question:

-Which is not an example of evolution?

a) mutations in an individual
b) allele freq change in a pop
c) allele freq change in a species
d) divergence of a species into 2 species
e) adaptive radiation

The answer is obviously A, so then evolution has to occur within species then??

 

[DetermineDent]

Hmm Im a bit confused. See, in Ferralis' notes, it says evolution occurs in populations, species, and groups

I know Natural Selection's smallest unit it can change is population, while the smallest unit it can ACT on is an individual's phenotype.

But would species not go into either category i.ie there is no "evolution of species" only evolution of populations?

Yah it can be evolution on a species as well. Just know that evolution doesn't act on an individual..