Punctuated equilibrium
The Punctuated Equilibrium (English punctuated equilibrium, in the jargon abbreviated Punk Eek ) is a first time in 1972, presented by the American paleontologist Niles Eldredge and Stephen Jay Gould theory, which provides the basis of Ernst Mayr's theory of allopatric speciation a statement of discontinuous change rates and jumps in fossil series.
Theory
The theory challenges the phyletic gradualism, which assumes a slow and progressive with constant velocity transformation of biological species by Gould and Eldredge. In contrast, changes in Punctuated with a " stasis " (standstill) designated chronological section, reveal only a small amount of morphologically conspicuous change in the species 'faster' with rapid change during allopatric speciation from (convertible is because he refers to geologic time, not necessarily " fast" for human relationships within the meaning of everyday use ). " Stasis " is broken ( engl. "punctuated ").
One consequence of punctuated equilibrium is a critical attitude to strictly adaptive explanations for morphology, biochemistry and behavior of living organisms, often " just so stories " are rejected as. In addition, non-adaptive mechanisms, such as genetic drift and Spandrelbildung must be considered according to punktualistischer view.
Closely linked is the idea of the unpredictability of biological evolution: Would turned back the wheel of time in a particular historical epoch nature, then an entirely different development would result.
The Punctuated Equilibrium was often ( Hopeful Monster) misinterpreted as a modern version of a punctuated evolution, similar to how it was represented by Richard Goldschmidt in the first half of the 20th century. S. J. Gould has objected to this interpretation, emphasizes that the punctuated equilibrium in the context of synthetic theory of evolution, and has specifically denies any relation of punctuated equilibrium to Goldschmidt's hypothesis. As gradualism with variable speed of development of the Punctuated Equilibrium is now widely accepted. Controversial, however, is the relative importance punktualistischer mechanisms to date. Increasingly, the debate will be conducted in relation to specific groups of organisms, which is showing more and more that studied at a species or genus evolutionary mechanisms leave little generalize.