Evolution repeats itself in replicate long-term studies in the wild

The extent to which evolution is repeatable remains debated. Here we study changes over time in the frequency of cryptic color-pattern morphs in 10 replicate long-term field studies of a stick-insect, each spanning at least a decade (across 30 years of total data). We find predictable ‘up-and-down’ fluctuations in stripe frequency in all populations, representing repeatable evolutionary dynamics based on standing genetic variation. A field experiment demonstrates that these fluctuations involve negative frequency-dependent natural selection (NFDS). These fluctuations rely on demographic and selective variability that pushes populations away from equilibrium, such that they can reliably move back towards it via NFDS. Finally, we show that the origin of new cryptic forms is associated with multiple structural genomic variants such that which mutations arise affects evolution at larger temporal scales. Thus, evolution from existing variation is predictable and repeatable, but mutation adds..., We compiled data on morph frequencies in Timema cristinae using samples collected in the spring using sweep nets between 1990 and 2023. All individuals were scored as 'striped', 'unstriped', or 'melanistic', or occasionally when it was difficult to distinguish between the first two categories as 'intermediate-striped'.  Samples from 1990 to 1999 were collected and scored by Cristina Sandoval, who then trained PN in 2000. PN collected and scored most samples from 2000 to 2023. The host-plant collected on was recorded for all individuals. 
Datasets from two field experiments are included as well.
Experiment 1. A total of 513 individuals were collected from populations LA (latitude 34.41, longitude -119.80), PRC (latitude 34.53, longitude -119.86), PRNC (latitude 34.53, longitude -119.85),  VPC (latitude 34.53, longitude -119.85), and WTA (latitude 34.52, longitude -119.78) between April 30th and May 4th, 2021. Numbers were as follows: green-unstriped morphs, LA 17, PRC 64, PRNC 58, VPC 71..., All datasets are provided as ASCII text files. , # Dataset: Evolution repeats itself in replicate long-term studies in the wild

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We compiled data on morph frequencies inTimema cristinae using samples collected in the spring using sweep nets between 1990 and 2023. All individual were scored as 'striped', 'unstriped', or 'melanistic', or occasionally when it was difficult to distinguish between the first two categories as 'intermediate-striped'. Samples from 1990 to 1999 were collected and scored by Cristina Sandoval, who then trained PN in 2000. PN collected and scored most samples from 2000 to 2023. The host-plant collected on was recorded for all individuals.

Datasets from two field experiments are included as well.

Experiment 1. A total of 513 individuals were collected from populations LA (latitude 34.41, longitude -119.80), PRC (latitude 34.53, longitude -119.86), PRNC (latitude 34.53, longitude -119.85), VPC (latitude 34.53, longitude -119.85), and WTA (latitude 34.52, longitude -119.78) between April 30th and May 4th, 202...