According to the concept of punctuated equilibrium, the "sudden" appearance of a new species in the fossil record means that ________.
A) the species is now extinct
B) speciation occurred in one generation
C) speciation occurred rapidly in geologic time
D) the species will consequently have a relatively short existence compared with other species

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Punctuated equilibrium is a theory in evolutionary biology which proposes that most sexually reproducing species will experience little evolutionary change for most of their geological history, but when they do evolve, it is in relatively short, rapid events of branching speciation. The "sudden" appearance of a new species in the fossil record, according to this concept, indicates that speciation occurred rapidly in geologic time, not instantaneously but over thousands or millions of years, which is rapid on a geologic scale.

According to the Concept of Punctuated Equilibrium, the "Sudden" Appearance