Evolution - Gradualism and Punctuated Equilibrium

Who proposed the term "punctuated equilibrium"?

Niles Eldredge and Stephen Jay Gould

What happens in a large population?

Lower evolutionary rate, more likely to appear on the fossil record

Approximately how long does it take for gradualism to occur?

Millions of years

When does punctuated equilibrium occur?

Rapid change occurs when a smaller population of species are isolated from the parent population

Gradualism

Change that is incremental and slow that happens over time

What is an example of gradualistic speciation?

Cichlids

What is speciation?

Creation of a new species

What happens in a small population?

Easier for evolution, higher evolutionary rate

The flaw in gradualism theory is ...

Evidence of gradualism from fossil records are difficult to find due to missing pieces and time gaps

Punctuated Equilibrium

Evolution is slow and it is interrupted by periods of rapid change

What are the two main ways to describe the rate of evolutionary change?

Gradualism and Punctuated Equilibrium

Approximately how long does it take for punctuated equilibrium to occur?

Hundreds of thousands of years