Editing Macroevolution (section)

=== Stanley's rule ===
Macroevolution is driven by differences between species in origination and extinction rates. Remarkably, these two factors are generally positively correlated: taxa that have typically high diversification rates also have high extinction rates. This observation has been described first by [[Steven M. Stanley|Steven Stanley]], who attributed it to a variety of ecological factors.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Stanley, Steven M.|title=Macroevolution, pattern and process|date=1979|publisher=W.H. Freeman|isbn=0-7167-1092-7|location=San Francisco|oclc=5101557}}</ref> Yet, a positive correlation of origination and extinction rates is also a prediction of the [[Red Queen hypothesis]], which postulates that evolutionary progress (increase in fitness) of any given species causes a decrease in fitness of other species, ultimately driving to extinction those species that do not adapt rapidly enough.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Van Valen|first=L.|date=1973|title=A new evolutionary law|journal=Evolutionary Theory|volume=1|pages=1–30}}</ref> High rates of origination must therefore correlate with high rates of extinction.<ref name=":1" /> Stanley's rule, which applies to almost all taxa and geologic ages, is therefore an indication for a dominant role of biotic interactions in macroevolution.