GRADUALISM VS PUNCTUATED EQUILIBRIUM:
Gradualism: selection and variation that happens to a species gradually and very slowly
Punctuated Equilibrium: changes that come in spurts and happen to seem as if they occur in short period of time
Gradualism and Punctuated Equilibrium are two ways evolution can occur, a species can evolve by either on or the other or by both. In gradualism changes tend to occur very slowly so in a short period of time you won't see much change to the species. While gradualism is slow PE is fast, it occurs in an instant either due to mutations or change that isn't seen. In PE a species can be not "best fit" and still survive, this happens when they become isolated and separated into a harsher environment that they have to adapt to. While living in a harsh environment they become for suitable and developed then return to population and out-compete them and become the normal population and the system will reoccur again. This example shows how species changes very rapidly over a few generations, then settle down again to a period of little change. These observations would not have been made without Charles Darwin (Gradualism) and Eldridge & Gould (Punctuated Equilibrium).
Gradualism: selection and variation that happens to a species gradually and very slowly
Punctuated Equilibrium: changes that come in spurts and happen to seem as if they occur in short period of time
Gradualism and Punctuated Equilibrium are two ways evolution can occur, a species can evolve by either on or the other or by both. In gradualism changes tend to occur very slowly so in a short period of time you won't see much change to the species. While gradualism is slow PE is fast, it occurs in an instant either due to mutations or change that isn't seen. In PE a species can be not "best fit" and still survive, this happens when they become isolated and separated into a harsher environment that they have to adapt to. While living in a harsh environment they become for suitable and developed then return to population and out-compete them and become the normal population and the system will reoccur again. This example shows how species changes very rapidly over a few generations, then settle down again to a period of little change. These observations would not have been made without Charles Darwin (Gradualism) and Eldridge & Gould (Punctuated Equilibrium).