Customer Reviews

Macroevolution: Pattern and Process

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This book, although somewhat dated, provides an excellent look at the broad trends of evolution through the eyes of a leading Johns Hopkins paleontologist. Stanley examines explains the modern synthesis, fossil evidence, speciation and extinction rates, quantum speciation, large-scale trends, and the dynamics of species turnover. Among the groups examined are gastropods, echinoids, corals, microfossils, graptolites, and vertebrates.

Steven M. Stanley (born 1941) is an American paleontologist and evolutionary biologist at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, who is probably best known for his empirical research documenting the evolutionary process of punctuated equilibrium in the fossil record. (His 1981 book The New Evolutionary Timetable has a more "popular" presentation of the more technical material in this 1979 book.)

He states in the Preface, "I have come to believe that paleontological data tell us things about evolution that have not gained general acceptance through the collective biologic effort known as the Modern Synthesis. The fossil record, in certain places and for certain purposes, is more instructive in the field of evolution than many have believed. Here, perhaps, is the fundamental message of this book."

He states, "the role of paleontology in evolutionary research has been defined narrowly because of a false belief, tracing back to Darwin and his early followers, that the fossil record is woefully incomplete. Actually, the record is of sufficiently high quality to allow us to undertake certain kinds of analysis meaningfully at the level of the species. Such analysis shows that many ideas now enjoying widespread support among biologists are in need of re-examination." (pg. 1)

He states, "the fossil records offers little promise for extensive documentation of quantum speciation." (Pg. 47) With regard to the bear-to-panda transition, he suggests, "In fact, it seems possible that a single event of quantum speciation accomplished the transition." (pg. 138)

Stanley is actually supportive of the views of Richard Goldschmidt (The Material Basis of Evolution: Reissued (Silliman Milestones in Science), stating, "Goldschmidt was ostracized by adherents of the Modern Synthesis. His ideas were considered utterly non-Darwinian. It must be appreciated, however, that, if correct, his views today would easily be accomodated within the punctuational model, albeit in its most extreme form." (Pg. 193)

He strongly makes the point, "much ingenuity has gone into the devising of hypotheses to account for the prevelance of sex. The fact that such ingenuity has been required engenders the suspicion that something is amiss.... The simple fact is that the gradualistic model as not been able, comfortably, to accomodate sexuality.... Moreover, there is evidence that many asexual higher organisms are by no means maladaptive." (pg. 220)