9.B Fossil Record Redemption

Move the correct terms to complete the statement below.

The sudden appearance of new species in the fossil record is evidence of (a)   and may be caused by ​ (b)  

• punctuated equilibrium
• transitional fossils
• gradualism
• stasis
• an unstable environment
• an increase in biodiversity
• a stable environment

When multiple transitional fossils are found in many rock layers, they provide evidence of —

• Seasonal variation in the diet of a species

• Gradual change of a species over time

• DNA functioning as the genetic material of organisms

• An unchanging environment

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Certain species of the coral-like sea organisms called bryozoans first appeared about 140 million years ago. They remained unchanged for the first 40 million years and then suddenly experienced rapid genetic change. Which process would BEST account for the pattern of evolution in bryozoans?

• Convergent evolution

• Differentiation

• Punctuated equilibrium

• Gradualism

Two scientists studied patterns of evolution in the fossil record. Many species they analyzed showed periods of slow change interrupted by a period of rapid change. This pattern of slow change followed by rapid change with few, if any, transitional fossils BEST describes the theory of —

• Natural selection

• Genetic drift

• Punctuated equilibrium

• Gene flow

The data in the diagram is evidence that —

• A new species of horse suddenly appeared

• Horses slowly developed over time

• Horses have similar stages of rapid embryological development

• Horses have a common ancestry with other hooved animals

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1