AP BIOLOGY

EVOLUTION

PATTERNS OF EVOLUTION

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
Periods of rapid change followed by long periods of little to no change, such as sudden color changes in animals
A
Gradualism
B
Punctuated Gradualism
C
Adaptive radiation
D
Convergent Evolution
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -The pattern of evolution that involves short periods of rapid change is called punctuated equilibrium.

Detailed explanation-2: -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.

Detailed explanation-3: -Both gradualism and punctuated equilibrium describe the rates of speciation. For Gradualism, changes in species is slow and gradual, occurring in small periodic changes in the gene pool, whereas for Punctuated Equilibrium, evolution occurs in spurts of relatively rapid change with long periods of non-change [1].

Detailed explanation-4: -Proponents of punctuated equilibrium point out that there are many missing links in the fossil record. If gradualism is the correct model for the rate of evolution, they argue, there should be fossil records that show evidence of slow, gradual change.

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