Question

Which theory of how evolution occurs would argue that all of the oak species in Georgia appeared suddenly from one common ancestor, over a short period of time, due to some extreme environmental changes, and that since that time, they have not changed much? A) gradualism B) microevolution C) macroevolution D) punctuated equilibriu

Answer 1

Answer;

D. Punctuated Equilibrium

Explanation;

• According to the theory of punctuated equilibrium organisms are in stasis until a major change causes evolutionary pressures, which will result in a rapid burst of speciation until the stasis is reached again.
• Based on this theory, when species occur in a fossil record, then the population will become stable, thus showing little evolutionary change for the geological history.
• In this case, based on the theory of punctuated equilibrium all of the oak species in Georgia appeared suddenly from one common ancestor, over a short period of time, due to some extreme environmental changes, and that since that time, they have not changed much.