Question

Suppose a species lived in an environment that changed very little over millions of years. Which theory about how fast evolution occurs would most likely explain the evolution of that species?

punctuated equilibria

genetic variation

gradualism

natural selection

Answer 1

In an environment that changed very little over millions of years, the theory that would most likely explain the evolution of that species is **punctuated equilibria**.

Punctuated equilibria suggests that species experience long periods of stability (stasis) with little evolutionary change, interrupted by short periods of rapid change during which speciation occurs in response to environmental shifts (even if the environment is relatively stable, small, localized changes can trigger rapid evolution). Since the environment in this scenario changes very little, the species may undergo relatively little evolutionary change over time, aligning with the ideas of punctuated equilibria.

While gradualism and natural selection also play important roles in evolution, gradualism emphasizes a slow and steady pace of evolution, which may not be as relevant in a stable environment for an extended period. Natural selection influences the traits of species, but in a stable environment, the selective pressures might not lead to significant changes, reinforcing the relevance of punctuated equilibria in this case.