In punctuated evolution (Eldredge and Gould, 1972) periods of relatively little change (“stasis”) are punctuated by episodes of relatively rapid change in the rate of evolution of a quantitative morphological trait, as seen in the fossil record of morphology. According to Simpson (1984), the term quantum evolution, refers to the same thing. Like Eldredge and Gould, Simpson contrasted quantum evolution with phyletic change, or sustained directional evolution without branching; considered that it could be associated with speciation (though also with phyletic evolution; p. 206); and even mentioned interrupted equilibra “In phyletic evolution equilibrium of the organism-environment system is continuous, or nearly so, although the point of equilibrium may and usually does shift. In quantum evolution equilibrium is lost, and a new equilibrium is reached”. I use the term “punctuation” rather than “quantum” because it less ambiguously describes change in rate of evolution. In its original meaning (from the Latin quantus), quantum means quantity. But quantum change, as mentioned by Simpson, is identified with the “quanta” of physics, which are discrete units of energy. This could encourage mistaken identification of punctuated change with the origin of discrete novelties, not the intended meaning of punctuated evolution, which is periodically altered rate of change in a continuously variable, quantitative trait. Mayr, Eldredge, Gould, and others (e.g., Stanley, 1979, 1981) explain stasis and punctuation in terms of speciation. Speciational punctuation hypotheses see stasis as due to the characteristics of established biological species, such as gene flow within interbreeding populations, large population size, heterogeneity of the species environment that retards directional change, developmental integration, canalization, coadapted genomes, stabilizing selection, and frequently reversing evolution over time within established species (Eldredge and Gould, 1997). These factors have been summarized by the term “gene-pool cohesiveness” (Mayr, 1989) or “developmental coherences” (Gould, 1989b), though the causes of stasis under the speciational hypothesis are admittedly vague and debatable (for reviews of other possible causes of stasis, see Williamson, 1987; Coyne and Charlesworth, 1997; Van Valen, 1982a; Spicer, 1993).
The change of reading/writing habit induces the directional change in drawings, but not in photos.
