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Conserved Polymorphism, Fossils, and the Macroevolutionary Reach of Microevolution
Gabriel S Bever1, Jacob Wilson1, William Foster1
1Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287.
The American Naturalist
|July 23, 2026
Summary
Intraspecific polymorphism, or variation within species, may be phylogenetically conserved, bridging microevolutionary dynamics and macroevolutionary patterns. Understanding this link is key to evolutionary biology and phylogenetic reconstruction.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Systematics
- Population Genetics
Background:
- Charles Darwin highlighted individual differences as the driving force of biodiversity.
- The link between microevolutionary processes and macroevolutionary outcomes remains a key research question.
- Morphology-based systematics offers a unique perspective on phenotypic evolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore phenotypic evolution at the micro-macroevolutionary interface.
- To test the hypothesis that intraspecific polymorphism can be phylogenetically conserved.
- To investigate the implications of conserved polymorphism for macroevolutionary inferences.
Main Methods:
- Synthesizing recent advances in population biology and phylogenomics.
- Deriving testable predictions from the hypothesis of conserved polymorphism.
- Utilizing paleontology and broad phenotypic sampling for analysis.
Main Results:
- Polymorphism within species may exhibit phylogenetic conservation.
- Conserved polymorphism can influence patterns of homoplasy.
- Paleontological data can illuminate the role of conserved polymorphism in macroevolution.
Conclusions:
- The micro-macroevolutionary interface is critical yet understudied in phenotypic evolution.
- Resolving these dynamics enhances phylogenetic reconstruction and evolutionary theory.
- Conserved intraspecific polymorphism has significant implications for understanding biodiversity.
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