The tempo or speed with which evolution and subsequent speciation can occur varies greatly. Darwin assumed that evolution was a constant accumulation of new traits that leads to the formation of a new species. In more recent years, Stephen Jay Gould and Niles Eldrege proposed a second explanation. Which of the following observations best explains the punctuated equilibrium model?
A. Fossils that show many intermediate stages between a species of horse from 6 million years ago and the currently existing species.
B. Fossils with little or no changes exist in strata over several million years, but suddenly disappear and a similar but obviously new species appears in relatively brief geological period.
C. A mass extinction is followed by numerous new species appearing.
D. All of the above are examples of the punctuated equilibrium.
E. Choices 2 and 3 are both examples of the punctuated equilibrium mode
2007-12-27
12:04:42
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4 answers
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Science & Mathematics
➔ Biology