What is an example of punctuated equilibrium?

Answer 1

Well, you have to be able to understand different aspects of evolution. In this case, there are 2 to consider:

1) Gradualism (Proposed by Darwin)

2) Punctuated Equilibrium (Gould and Eldredge)

In gradualism, the idea is pretty much that over time, we constantly and consistently came to be who we are. Butterflies today are who they are today because of constant changes over time. I guess you can think of it as one little thing happening at a time to make one whole new big picture (or in this case, organism).

In punctuated equilibrium, it's not constant over time. It proposes pretty much that we are who we are today because of set intervals of time where evolution occurred. For example, many years ago, we would have been apes. It followed for 2000 years then in a 10 year interval, we became another form, then 6000 years later, in a random 15 year interval, we became a closer form of human.

Hope that clears things up..

MG

Answer 2

As stated, in a punctuated fashion. Organisms can be in stasis, adapted well to their environment for long periods of time, but can undergo rapid evolutionary change ( rapid in the geological sense ) with the proper environmental selection pressure.

Answer 3

Species stay the same for a long time and then change quickly due to environmental changes.