Explain how natural selection caused the frequency of black moths within the population to increase during the Industrial Revolution.
Question
Explain how natural selection caused the frequency of black moths within the population to increase during the Industrial Revolution.
Solution
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The concept of natural selection, as proposed by Charles Darwin, suggests that individuals within a species show wide levels of variation, and those with characteristics most suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. This process causes certain traits to become more common within a population over time.
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Prior to the Industrial Revolution, the majority of peppered moths (Biston betularia) in England were of a light coloration which effectively camouflaged them against the light-colored trees and lichens upon which they rested.
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However, during the Industrial Revolution, soot and pollution from factories darkened the trees and lichens, making the light-colored moths more visible to predators, and therefore more likely to be eaten before they could reproduce.
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At the same time, a dark-colored variant of the peppered moth, which was previously rare in the population, now had a survival advantage. These dark-colored moths were better camouflaged against the soot-darkened trees, and so were less likely to be eaten by predators.
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As a result, the dark-colored moths had a higher survival rate and could pass on their genes to their offspring. Over several generations, the frequency of dark-colored moths increased within the population - a clear demonstration of natural selection in action.
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This phenomenon, known as 'industrial melanism', is one of the most famous examples of natural selection, and shows how quickly populations can evolve in response to changes in their environment.
Similar Questions
During the Industrial Revolution, black peppered moths had better camouflage than white moths. Over many generations, black moths became very common in the population.What was the selection pressure:*1 pointPredators hunting more white moths than black moths.Predators hunting more black moths than white moths.Camouflage increased the frequency of the black colour trait in the population.Camouflage increased the frequency of the white colour trait in the population.
Why did the black peppered moth become more prevalent than the white peppered moth during the industrial revolution?The white peppered moth was killed by pollutionThe black peppered moth could fly faster and therefore escape predatorsThe black peppered moth ate the white peppered mothThe black peppered moth was better camouflaged against polluted tree bark
During the Industrial Revolution, black peppered moths had better camouflage than white moths. Over many generations, black moths became very common in the population.
The data indicates that during the Industrial Revolution, dark mothsElimination ToolSelect one answerAhad a higher survival rate than light moths.Bcould change color.Chad greater genetic variation than light moths.Dcould change their phenotype.
The peppered moth is often used as a case study to illustrate natural selection. The allele for dark-colored is dominant and the allele for light colored is recessive. In the 1850's light-colored moths were higher in population size and easily camouflaged in the trees from predators; however after industrial air pollution covered the trees with soot in the early 1900's the dark-colored moths blended in with the trees more effectively and became greater in number than the light-colored moths. Which evolutionary trend is demonstrated?Group of answer choicesa smaller percentage of light-colored moths survive to reproduce, shrinking the gene pool and causing mutations.the populations of the light-colored and the dark-colored moths will both become extinct.more dark-colored moths survive to reproduce, which shifted the allele frequency towards the dark-colored allele.over time, the birds will get used to eating the light-colored moths and stop eating the dark-colored moths.
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