Mollusk fossils were excavated and collected from a coastal cliff. Scientists studying the fossils observed patterns of changing shell shape in the mollusks. The scientists identified a period of stability or stasis, followed by rapid change, and then stasis again with regard to shell shape. Which of the following statements best predicts the result of a comparison between the fossils found before and after the period of rapid change? a) The same species will be found in both static periods, but they will have different shell shapes.
b) The same species will be found in both static periods, but the species in the second static period will have smaller shells due to the stress of undergoing capid change
c) Most of the species found in the first static period will be absent in the second static period.
d) Most of the species found in the second static period will resemble each other more than the species found in the first static perlod