Consider the potential effect of global warming on organisms that are dormant during the winter. These organisms stop growth and reproduction during the winter. They would probably be more "fit" if they could spend more of their time reproducing and gathering resources for reproduction, but the low temperatures don't allow it. However, global warming would allow them to do just that: spend more time growing and reproducing — but taking advantage of this opportunity is likely to require evolutionary change.

The mosquito species Wyeomyia smithii, shown here in a pitcher plant, has evolved in response to global warming. Mosquitoes use day length (not temperature) as a cue to tell them what time of year it is and when to overwinter — this "cuing" is genetically controlled. In a warmer climate with shorter winters, we'd expect mosquitoes that waited a little longer to go dormant to have higher fitness and be selected for. And in fact, researchers who have been collecting data on these mosquitoes for almost 30 years have observed exactly this sort of change. Mosquito populations have evolved so that slightly shorter days are required as a cue for going dormant.