Why is the environment that was in place when a trait was evolving considered important?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The environment that was in place when a trait was evolving is considered important because the evolutionary process is primarily concerned with whether an organism's traits helped it to survive and reproduce in its current environment. The success of a trait is measured by its immediate impact on an organism's fitness, rather than its potential utility in future environments.

Why Is the Environment That Was in Place When a Trait