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How the fossils record supports the theory of punctuated equilibrium?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
the fossils show massive change at one time (for instance the Grand Canyon; this massive change occurs usually from significant weather/environmental events) , and during the periods between the significant changes not much evolution (changes in genetic expression/genes) occurs.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
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What are two things that scientists learn from the fossils record?
The fossil record provides evidence about the history of life and past environment on earth. The fossil record also shows that different groups of organism have changed over time.
Discuss how fossils provide evidence of change from the earliest life-forms to those alive today?
Fossils showing animals of the past display some similarity to animals of today as well as some differences. When we start at the bottom of the fossil record (where all the oldest fossils are) and work our way up through all the rock layers of the different ages in geologic time, we start to notice the changes in the fossils and how they lead up to the animals of today
How can scientists use the fossil record to provide evidence that evolution of organisms has occurred over time?
Using methods such as radioactive dating, scientists can determine the approximate age of a fossil or the rock in which it was found. Utilizing this knowledge of approximate age, scientists can compare progressive fossils, and identify changes. Changes are often minimal, and sometimes organisms do not change at all for large amounts of time, making comparative analysis of fossils a tedious task. Some eras produced better fossils than others. This can have several causes, such as particularly prolific habitation of environments that more easily produce fossils, general population booms, certain mass extinction events, and even happenstance. Because some eras produce better or more fossils, and some produce few to almost none, the fossil record can sometimes falter. In such cases, scientific investigations may be forced to fill in blanks between species using genetic analysis of preceding and proceeding species or groups within species, if the fossil(s) contain(s) any remaining genetic material. In other cases, computers will be used to recreate images of the species based on fossils, and identify progression between species. In any case, the fossil record is often used as a base off of which to obtain or recreate further information about an organism's evolutionary history.
How is inference related to fossils?
Inference (deduction) is the process of determining a conclusion based on given evidence. Since we often can't know precisely what a prehistoric animal or plant looked like (unless it was completely preserved, as is the case with ice or amber), we have to take what bones, casts, molds, etc. that exist, and infer something about the plant or animal based on the structure and surroundings. For example, based on what we know about structure and function of various anatomies of existing animals, we can infer things about dinosaurs based on the bone structures found in their fossils. We can also determine whether they were predators or prey, whether they hunted or traveled in herds, in what class of animal we can group them, and so forth.
When were the 1st reptiles discovered?
Snakes evolved from lizard like reptiles. The fossil record of snakes is relatively poor because they are small and fragile but they first appear in the fossil record during the Cretaceous period (between 112 and 94 million years ago), with the earliest known snake fossils coming from Utah and Algeria. These early fossils are from the genera Coniophis and Lapparentophis.
Is fossil record considered scientific theory?
Probably more in the line of many converging pieces of evidence in support of theory. Theory is explanation and fossils are just mineralized bones in the rock. which need and explanation. The fossil record supports the theory of evolution by natural selection and, some say, the theory of punctuated equilibrium.
The idea that new species occur suddenly in the fossil record followed by long periods of little change is called?
This is the idea called punctuated equilibria, by paleontologists Stephen Jay Gould and Niles Eldredge. It explains the patterns seen in the fossil record.
According to the concept of punctuated equilibrium the sudden appearance of a new species in the fossil record means that?
Speciation occurred instantaneously, I think
How does the fossil record differ for the gradualism model compared to the punctuated equilibria model?
Punctuated equilibrium is a model of a rapid mutation that happens rapidly or over a short period of time. On the other hand the gradualism model states that this change takes place slowly unlike the punctuated equilibrium.
How does the punctuated equilibrium model of evolution states that evolution occurs rapidly?
Gradualism is the theory that evolution occurs slowly and consistently along periods of time. On the other hand, punctuated equilibrium is the theory that evolution does not occurs for long periods of time and then suddenly evolves rapidly in a small short period of time.
The sum of all the fossils that exist is called the?
The sum of all the fossils that exist is called that fossil record. It includes fossils from all geologic time periods.
What do trace fossils record?
totototot
What did Stephen Gould invent?
Gould's greatest contribution to science was the theory of punctuated equilibrium which he developed with Niles Eldredge in 1972. The theory proposes that most evolution is marked by long periods of evolutionary stability, which is punctuated by rare instances ofbranching evolution. The theory was contrasted against phyletic gradualism, the popular idea that evolutionary change is marked by a pattern of smooth and continuous change in the fossil record.
The fossil record is?
a record that shows how fossils have changed over time
What is fossil record?
The fossil record is the information about the fossils found in a particular location.
Can you compare and contrast gradualism and punctuated equilibrium?
punctuated equilibria accounts for the gaps in the fossil record. Species evolve quickly during relatively short periods. Tiny changes in a species gradually add up to major changes over very long periods of time. Gradualism proposes that evolution occurs slowly but steadily. These periods of rapid change are separated by long periods of little or no change.
What do scientists use the fossil record for?
Recording fossils No.
