Topic: Evolution
Quote: I wasn\'t thinking the term \'micro-evolution\' but that does work.\nMy point was that the idea of evolution is a gradual change over a long period of time. (I\'ve never head the term "macro-evolution" (nor "micro-evolution honestly) but I assume that\'s what it is until you suggest different.)\nI guess the change in beak size is more noticeable than gradual. My point for asking the question was from the selection that you quoted. I point out what stuck out to me...\nWhat I saw was that if the finch are evolving a smaller beak because of the larger billed "recent immigration," than that is a fast change for when the idea of evolution is gradual change over a long period of time, unless I misinterpreted it. But then again, I think it\'s possible that "micro-evolution" does happen in some birds such as finches.
Response: It is \'change over time\', not \'gradual change over time\'. The morphological changes tend to happen with a change in the environment. \nThe difference between \'micro\' evolution and \'macro\' evolution is the number of steps. "Macro" evolution is a bunch of \'micro\' evoltultions that add up. You have two populations that you can compare that used to interbreed, and for some reason, do not, and then you add on a few 1000 \'mircro-evolution\' events to each, they become very very different.
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