The hypothesis that evolutionary development is marked by isolated episodes of rapid speciation between long periods of little or no change.
‘We performed the analysis assuming two evolutionary models: Brownian motion and punctuated equilibrium or speciation.’
‘I didn't mention punctuated equilibrium or allopatric speciation either, because it isn't relevant to the matter at hand.’
‘Their views are commonly known as the theory of punctuated equilibrium and contrasted with evolutionary gradualism.’
‘Gould and Eldredge pointed out that the fossil record was one of millions of years of stasis, punctuated by relatively brief periods of rapid change - hence punctuated equilibrium.’
‘His best-known contribution to evolutionary biology was the theory of punctuated equilibrium that he developed with his colleague Niles Eldridge.’
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