AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -In evolutionary biology, punctuated equilibrium (also called punctuated equilibria) is a theory that proposes that once a species appears in the fossil record, the population will become stable, showing little evolutionary change for most of its geological history.

Detailed explanation-2: -The fossil record better supports the model of punctuated equilibrium. In this model, long periods of little change are interrupted by bursts of rapid change.

Detailed explanation-3: -The theory of punctuated equilibrium states that evolutionary change is characterised by short periods of rapid evolution followed by longer periods of stasis in which no change occurs. Despite years of work seeking evidence for punctuational change in the fossil record, the theory remains contentious.

Detailed explanation-4: -Eldredge and Gould characterized their model as punctuated equilibria. “Punctuated” referred to the sudden appearance of morphologically distinct new species in the fossil record. “Equilibria” referred to the stasis that species exhibit following speciation.

Detailed explanation-5: -In the punctuated model of evolution, a species remains fairly stable for long periods of time, which are suddenly punctuated by rapid spurts of evolution where new species appear. This suggests that intermediate, or transitional, species are rare, and are thus seldom found in the fossil record.