Final answer:
Punctuated equilibrium is evolutionary development marked by isolated episodes of rapid speciation between long periods of little or no change.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phenomenon of long periods of stasis, or no change, followed by quick periods of change is known as punctuated equilibrium. This pattern of evolution is marked by isolated episodes of rapid speciation between long periods of little or no change.
Instead of a gradual accumulation of small changes, punctuated equilibrium suggests that rapid changes due to environmental factors are characteristic of the formation of new species.