Question

Fossil records indicate that between 80 million and 60 million years ago the structure of the horned dinosaur frequently underwent rapid changes separated by long periods of stability. This pattern of change best illustrates the concept of -

Answer 1

punctuated equilibrium

Step-by-step explanation:

The punctuated equilibrium theory is a model of evolution by bursts of speciation, which was proposed by the paleontologists Niles Eldredge and Stephen J. Gould (1972). The theory of punctuated equilibrium states that evolution is characterized by rapid changes followed by longer periods of stasis where little observable evolution seems to occur judging from the fossil record. The punctuated equilibrium theory does not propose that Darwin's evolutionary gradualism is wrong, but this theory suggests that important evolutionary changes occur in short periods of time that are linked to speciation events. In consequence, fossils record does not represent transitional forms because of their small population size compared to the observed in stasis periods.