Editing Punctuated equilibrium (section)

===Multiple meanings of gradualism===
Punctuated equilibrium is often portrayed to oppose the concept of [[Gradualism#Geology and biology|gradualism]], when it is actually a form of gradualism.<ref name="Dawkins, Richard 1996 p. 224-252">[[Richard Dawkins|Dawkins, Richard]] (1996). ''[[The Blind Watchmaker]]''. New York: W. W. Norton & Co., Chapter 9. (p. 224-252)</ref> This is because even though evolutionary change appears instantaneous between geological sedimentary layers, change is still occurring incrementally, with no great change from one generation to the next. To this end, Gould later commented that "Most of our [[paleontology|paleontological colleagues]] missed this insight because they had not studied evolutionary theory and either did not know about [[allopatric speciation]] or had not considered its translation to geological time. Our [[Population genetics|evolutionary colleagues]] also failed to grasp the implication(s), primarily because they did not think at geological scales".<ref name=Opus200/>

[[Richard Dawkins]] dedicates a chapter in ''[[The Blind Watchmaker]]'' to correcting, in his view, the wide confusion regarding ''rates of change''. His first point is to argue that [[phyletic gradualism]]—understood in the sense that evolution proceeds at a single uniform speed, called "constant speedism" by Dawkins—is a "caricature of Darwinism"<ref>Dawkins, Richard (1996). ''[[The Blind Watchmaker]]''. New York: W. W. Norton & Co., p. 227.</ref> and "does not really exist".<ref>[[Richard Dawkins|Dawkins, Richard]]  (1996). The Blind Watchmaker, p. 228. Dawkins' exception to this rule is the non-adaptive evolution observed in molecular evolution.</ref> His second argument, which follows from the first, is that once the caricature of "constant speedism" is dismissed, we are left with one logical alternative, which Dawkins terms "variable speedism". Variable speedism may also be distinguished one of two ways: "''discrete variable'' speedism" and "''continuously variable'' speedism". Eldredge and Gould, proposing that evolution jumps between stability and relative rapidity, are described as "discrete variable speedists", and "in this respect they are genuinely radical."<ref>[[Richard Dawkins|Dawkins, Richard]] (1996) ''[[The Blind Watchmaker]]'', p. 245.</ref> They assert that evolution generally proceeds in bursts, or not at all. "Continuously variable speedists", on the other hand, advance that "evolutionary rates fluctuate continuously from very fast to very slow and stop, with all intermediates. They see no particular reason to emphasize certain speeds more than others. In particular, stasis, to them, is just an extreme case of ultra-slow evolution. To a punctuationist, there is something very special about stasis."<ref>Dawkins, Richard (1996). The Blind Watchmaker, p. 245-246.</ref>