When Darwin published his theory of evolution, he included all of the following ideas EXCEPT the idea that

a. species changed slowly over time.

b. some organisms become less suited to their environment then others.

c. evolution occurs in spurts after major environmental change.

d. some organisms reproduce at a greater rate than others.

B?

No. C. He never used the word evolution.

Thank you!

No, the correct answer is c. Evolution occurs in spurts after major environmental change.

To confirm the correct answer, we need to carefully examine the options and eliminate the one that does not align with Darwin's theory of evolution.

a. species changed slowly over time: This is a central idea in Darwin's theory of evolution. He proposed that species undergo gradual changes over long periods.

b. some organisms become less suited to their environment than others: This idea is also consistent with Darwin's theory. He argued that organisms that are better adapted to their environment have a higher chance of survival and reproductive success.

c. evolution occurs in spurts after major environmental change: This idea is known as punctuated equilibrium and was proposed by Stephen Jay Gould and Niles Eldredge in the 1970s. It suggests that evolution can occur in short, rapid bursts following major environmental changes. While this concept is related to evolution, it was not included in Darwin's original theory.

d. some organisms reproduce at a greater rate than others: This idea, known as the principle of natural selection, is a fundamental aspect of Darwin's theory. He posited that individuals with advantageous traits would have higher reproductive success, leading to those traits becoming more common in future generations.

Based on this analysis, we can conclude that the correct answer is c. Evolution occurs in spurts after major environmental change.