Evolution
Evolutionary Stasis
Long periods during which a species shows little morphological change despite environmental variation. A key observation of the fossil record challenging gradualist evolution expectations.
Used in the Books
This term appears in 1 chapter:
Biological Context
Horseshoe crabs have remained virtually unchanged for 450 million years. Coelacanths, crocodilians, and many marine invertebrates show similar stasis. Stasis suggests that once an organism is well-adapted to a broad niche, further change may be disadvantageous.
Business Application
Market stasis: stable industry structures that persist for decades. Understanding what maintains stasis helps predict when disruption is likely and when established players are genuinely protected.