It is known that it takes very long periods of time for new species to develop, and yet the fossil record for many organisms is characterized by long periods of Stasis (no change) followed by short bursts of intense Speciation (the disappearance of one species followed by the appearance of a new species). Thus in the fossil record, organisms seem to stay the same for long periods of time followed by a “sudden” change in the organisms (sudden with respect to evolution and geology). In other words, it appears that new species evolve suddenly as opposed to over long periods of time. The Theory of Punctuated Equilibrium helps to explain these seemingly contradictory occurrences in the fossil record. Discuss how Punctuated Equilibrium works (think about small offshoot populations that break off from the main population) and how it can explain the fossil record evidence. (Be sure to include information about why fossils of the offshoot population would be rare.)
It is known that it takes very long periods of time for new species to develop, and yet the fossil record for many organisms is characterized by long periods of Stasis (no change) followed by short bursts of intense
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