Unpredictable Evolution in a 30-Year Study of Darwin's Finches

Summary of the Grants' landmark long-term study on Daphne Major documenting how the 1977 drought caused 85% mortality in medium ground finches, with survivors having beaks averaging 4% larger. Demonstrates natural selection operating on observable timescales.

Provides empirical evidence that random environmental events can drive rapid evolutionary change, illustrating how organizational 'bottlenecks' like market crashes or funding droughts can permanently alter company trajectories based on which individuals or traits happen to survive.