Question

The one-toed horse of today steadily evolved from its five-toed ancestor. Which theory of evolution can explain this example?
A: adaptive radiation
B: punctuated equilibruim
C: gradulism

Answer 1

Hi there,

I think just defining and explaining these three terms will be enough to answer your question.

Adaptive radiation occurs when adaptations allow an organism to take advantage of a new ecological role which it previously couldn't. For example, Adaptive radiation was extremely important after mass extinctions. Extinctions created a sort of vacuum which was filled by groups of organisms adapting it new roles which led to the formation of new species.

Punctuated equilibrium and gradualism refer to how quickly speciation occurs. Depending on what factors led to the formation of a new species, this process could occur relatively quickly(perhaps tens of thousands of years compared to millions) or it can occur very slowly. When we examine the fossil record these differences in speciation times become apparent. Sometimes there is a steady trail of fossils which slowly change over time, but other times a new species seems to suddenly appear and then not change for millions of years until some major event such occurs. If a species "suddenly" occurs it is an example of punctuated equilibrium, and the more gradual process is given the name gradualism. Of course it is important to remember that even with punctuated equilibrium we are still dealing with tens of thousands of years.... It's just because fossils are rare that it appears to is that the new species appeared suddenly.

Answer 2

so whats the awnser

Answer 3

its not A

Answer 4

i think it might be B

Answer 5

correct answer is c