It opposes the phylectic type of another idea and explains the lack of transitional forms in fossil records.
This theory originated as an offshoot of Ernst Mayr's concept of genetic revolutions by speciation, but was greatly expanded by the author of a 1971 paper citing fossil records of trilobites, Niles Eldredge, as well as Stephen Jay Gould. It opposes the phylectic type of another idea and explains the lack of transitional forms in fossil records. Stating that most sexually reproducing species experience little change for most of their history and that their evolution occurs in short, rapid spurts is, for ten points, what evolutionary theory often contrasted with phylectic gradualism?
This theory originated as an offshoot of Ernst Mayr's concept of genetic revolutions by speciation, but was greatly expanded by the author of a 1971 paper citing fossil records of trilobites, Niles Eldredge, as well as Stephen Jay Gould.
{punctuated equilibrium}