Table 2 Differences between predictions of the gradualistic and punctuational theories of evolution

typical representative

Fisher’s model

Futuyma’s model

Wright’s model

Templeton’s model

Mayr’s model

Flegr’s model

anagenesis and cladogenesis are coupled **^{1, 2}

no

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

divergence of species correlates with taxon richness ¹

no

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

genetic polymorphism decelerates evolution **³

no

no

no

no

yes

yes

most species under usual conditions respond to selection *⁴

as plasiticine

as plasiticine

rather as lead than plasticine

rather as lead than plasticine

as rubber

as ruber

two species in the same niche frequently can easily coexist *

no

no

yes

yes

yes

yes

species are adapted to original environment *⁵

no

no

yes

yes

yes

yes

local and global abundance do not correlate for old species **⁶

no

no

yes

yes

yes

yes

abundance of species decreases with species age

no

no

yes

yes

yes

yes

ability of species to respond to environmental changes decreases with species age **⁷

no

no

no

no

yes

yes

ability of species to change taxon-characteristic traits decreases with clade age *

no

no

no

no

no

yes

species on islands are derived more than those on continents *¹

no

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

asexual species are more adapted to their environment *⁸

no

no

no

yes

yes

yes

cross-pollinating species more stable than self-pollinating species *⁹

no

yes

no

yes

yes

yes

invasive species express higher capacity to respond selection **¹⁰

no

no

no

yes

yes

yes

domesticated species express higher capacity to respond selection

no

no

no

yes

yes

yes

domesticated species are evolutionarily younger

no

no

no

no

yes

yes

successful selection decreases fitness *¹¹

no

no

no

no

yes

yes

evolution of altruistic behavior by group selection is easy *¹²

no

no

no

yes

yes

yes

phylogenetic trees usually resemble *¹³

tree

shrub

shrub

shrub

shrub

shrub

intraspecies variability in a clade usually decreases in time*

no

no

no

no

no

yes

interspecies variability (disparity) in a clade usually decreases *

no

no

no

no

no

yes

dead clade walking should frequently occur *

no

no

no

no

no

yes

slow long-term trends are quite possible *

no

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

genera and higher taxa are objective existing entities *

no

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes