Punctuated Equilibrium

Punctuated equilibrium explained in an easy to understand way:

Punctuated Equilibrium Simple Definition
Punctuated Equilibrium Definition

Imagine trying to organize your messy garage, where you spend months doing nothing about it and then suddenly dedicate a weekend to a complete overhaul. This is similar to punctuated equilibrium in evolution, where species remain unchanged for long periods until rapid changes occur in short, intense bursts. Just as the garage remains stable and cluttered until you decide to transform it over one weekend, species stay the same until environmental pressures or mutations trigger quick evolutionary changes.

Practice Version

Punctuated Equilibrium Definition

Punctuated Equilibrium: States that evolution happens in short periods, separated by long periods of stability. Punctuated equilibrium. It is a scientific theory suggesting that species evolve rapidly during brief periods of change, followed by long periods of little to no change.