Re:punk eq

["Sharon A. Calpin (717) 621-3118" <CALPIN.SHARON@a1.pader.gov>]

On Jan 23, Rob comments about punctuated eq. vs gradualism (sorry, I don't have 
a nifty copy feature on my bare-bones E-Mail).

        I agree with you that both methods are at work but I thought that 
gradualism implied that there are clear, intermediate forms of organisms that 
exist (via slow change) (that may not have been recovered yet). Punk eq. seems 
to be a pretty viable, documented phenomenon i.e. Burgess Shale. The world 
seemed pretty open to possiblities at that point and radiation of new types of 
organisms was rapid. I'm open to believe this type of rapid filling of niches 
occurred after mass extinctions. 
        I would say that organisms continue to "gradually" evolve in normal 
situations but the exact term "gradualism" may not mean that in the formal 
sense. It meant gradual all the time not just some or most of the time.
        Am I making sense? I read a lot of Stephen Jay Gould but I can't retain 
it all.

Sharon Calpin