Repeated environmental changes can lead evolution in unexpected directions, and research from Vermont shows that studying a single population does not capture the full story of an entire species.

All forms of life exist in environments that are constantly shifting. Seasons change, wet years follow dry ones, and conditions that once favored survival can quickly disappear. Because of this, it is clear that plant and animal populations are continually forced to adapt, says University of Vermont scientist Csenge Petak. What remains uncertain is how these ongoing environmental changes influence the course of evolution itself.