Significant morphological evolution can occur in wild populations within a span of 37 years

the verdict

SUPPORTED

the evidence backs this

Recorded sources

2 sources for · 0 against

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Extensive empirical databases tracking phenotypic rates of change in wild populations confirm that significant morphological evolution can and frequently does occur within a span of decades, such as 37 years.

The analysis

The claim asserts that significant morphological evolution can occur in wild populations within a span of 37 years. This is a specific, empirical, and well-studied proposition in evolutionary biology. Databases like PROCEED (Paper [6]) and analyses of contemporary phenotypic change in wild populations (Paper [7]) explicitly document rapid phenotypic shifts occurring over timescales of decades (with medians around 45 years and maximums spanning contemporary study periods well under a century), providing clear support for the claim without significant contradictory evidence regarding the feasibility of rapid change over a 37-year window.

Evidence for · 2

PROCEED v6.1: Phenotypic rates of change evolutionary and ecological database.

Recorded source metadata

Lucas D Gorné, Andrew P Hendry, Fanie Pelletier, Sarah Sanderson, Cristian Correa, Carlos Arias, Marc-Olivier Beausoleil, Maryse Boisjoly, Erika Crispo, Daniel Berner, Luis F De León, Joseph D DiBattista, Grant E Haines, Benjamin C Haller, Michael T Kinnison, Shahin Muttalib, Ann E McKellar, Rose E O'Dea, Winer Daniel Reyes-Corral, Yanny Ritchot, Krista B Oke, Zachary T Wood, Thomas Farrugia, Kiyoko M Gotanda. PROCEED v6.1: Phenotypic rates of change evolutionary and ecological database.. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.70009

The PROCEED database documents thousands of phenotypic rates of change in wild populations over timescales typically under 100 years, with a median of 45 years, establishing that rapid phenotypic evolution readily occurs within a 37-year timeframe.

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More for · 1

What invasive species reveal about the rate and form of contemporary phenotypic change in nature.

Recorded source metadata

Peter A H Westley. What invasive species reveal about the rate and form of contemporary phenotypic change in nature.. 2011. https://doi.org/10.1086/658902

Data from invasive and native species demonstrate that abrupt contemporary phenotypic change occurs in wild populations over short ecological timescales.

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first checked01 Aug 2026

judged → SUPPORTED · 7501 Aug 2026

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