7.9 Extinction

7.9 Extinction

Extinction is the loss of a group of organisms, such as a species. Levels of biodiversity are determined by rates of speciation and rates of extinction.

7.8 Speciation

7.8 Speciation

Speciation, the origin of new species, is at the focal point of Darwin’s evolutionary theory. Evolutionary theory must explain how new species originate and how populations evolve.

7.7 Phylogeny

7.7 Phylogeny

Phylogeny is the evolutionary history of a species or group of related species. The discipline of systematics classifies organisms and determines their evolutionary relationships.

Pagination