Final answer:
The statement that evolutionary rate of change is directly related to the rate of environmental change can be considered false because evolution is influenced by multiple factors and can progress in non-linear ways. It's not a process of perfect adaptation, and human evolution still occurs under current different pressures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "Evolutionary rate of change is directly related to the rate of environmental change." can be false. While evolutionary changes in a population can and often do respond to changes in the environment, this doesn't mean the relationship is always direct or proportional. Evolution is influenced by a variety of factors, including genetic drift, mutation, migration, and selection pressures. The rate at which evolution occurs can also be affected by the reproductive rate of the organism, the generation time, and the size of the population. Moreover, the theory of punctuated equilibrium suggests that evolutionary changes do not always occur at a steady pace but can happen in rapid bursts interspersed with long periods of little or no change.
Considering misconceptions: Evolution is not a process aiming for perfect adaptation, but a process that results from differential survival and reproduction in varying environments. Humans are indeed still evolving, but the pressures are different now. Over time, the human population growth impacts biodiversity through habitat destruction, overharvesting, and other factors, which can lead to a decrease in the evolutionary rate of formation of new species.
When considering climate change, invasive species, zoonotic diseases, and overharvesting, it's essential to recognize that these can all result in environmental changes that may affect evolutionary rates, but the relationship is complex and not strictly one-to-one.