Poems and Thoughts    by Frank Maurer

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Elizabeth Vrba (1942 - 2025). These are some thoughts of Elizabeth Vrba, A great, but lesser known evolutionary biologist: 'Evolution is not always slow with incremental changes, But, rather, evolution moves in bursts, Or abrupt waves of extinction and speciation'-- According to her 'Turnover Pulse' hypothesis,-- 'As a result of great climate upheavals.' She also worked on 'exaptation', the process where traits evolve For one function, and later are co-opted for another. She studied 'stimulated paleontology' for a better predictive precision. 'The fossil record is not a static archive, But a dynamic record of nature's upheavals.' 'Species are shaped by external forces, Not by internal biological pressures: Thus, as a result of environmental changes from shifts in climate-- Not always random, nor by gradual competition.' 'The survival of the generalist is greater than that of the specialist.' Her advocacy of her thoughts and hypotheses will be missed, But as time and knowledge increases, More of her thoughts may be actually demonstrated. Frank Maurer 15 April 2025 1720 Hours.