I’m responding via cell phone, so can’t easily address all the people you did, but this is meant for all addressed by you. Adaptation in this context is, indeed, evolution. It’s an age-old chicken-and-egg question. Which came first, an environmental change that triggered a genetic mutation, or a genetic mutation that made it possible for an animal to take advantage of a different environment?
The answer appears to be both. There are numerous instances in which creatures became isolated in various locales and evolved both behaviors and genetic variations while adapting to their new situation. Species that don’t adapt — evolve — become extinct. One humanoid example is Neanderthal.
Would like to expand more but difficult on cell phone.
As for devolution, I believe there is circumstantial evidence that humans are currently in the process of devolving in several ways. In some respects, we seem to be reverting to very primitive behavior. (This last is meant in jest in case You don’t realize it.)
It takes a village is devolution to stone age tribalism of the urban gang banger