Which explains the peppered moth story?
Which explains the peppered moth story?
The evolution of the peppered moth is an evolutionary instance of directional colour change in the moth population as a consequence of air pollution during the Industrial Revolution. The frequency of dark-coloured moths increased at that time, an example of industrial melanism.
How is the peppered moth an example of natural selection?
Wing-color changes in peppered moths are a common example of what scientists refer to as natural selection. In it, organisms develop random mutations. Some of the gene changes will leave individuals better suited — or adapted — to their environment. These individuals will tend to survive more often.
Why did peppered moths change color?
Most of the peppered moths collected in the early 1800s were the light form. Scientists bred the moths and figured out that the light-colored form of the peppered moth has different genes from the dark form. The black color of the dark form was due to a mutation in the DNA of the light-colored form.
What color is the typical version of the peppered moths?
While the typical peppered moth is light, and is given the name typica, some moths have dark, almost black, bodies. These moths are given the name carbonaria. Others are somewhere in the middle and have many more dark spots than the light peppered moth. This middle color (or morph) is called insularia.
What is the story of the peppered moth?
The story of the Peppered Moth is particularly powerful as it is so easy to understand. Dark moths that sit on dark trees are better camouflaged than pale moths. Birds eat the moths based on which ones they can find. As moth colour is genetically determined, this is the definition of evolution, namely change in gene frequency over time.
How did the peppered moth become an example of evolution?
The story became a classic example of evolution by natural selection. Towards the end of the 20th century, scientists found that some of the assumptions in the original experiments weren’t borne out in nature, as many of the moths rested on tree branches rather than on tree trunks.
How did the Industrial Revolution affect the peppered moth?
The light moths blended in with the light-colored trees. However, the Industrial Revolution changed the tree colors. After the pollution from the Industrial Revolution started affecting trees, most of the collected peppered moths were of the dark form. Click for more detail.
Why are light peppered moths more common than black moths?
The lichen has started to grow again and the black soot no longer settles on the barks of the trees. As expected, the light peppered moth population has recently been more common in the population. This is because it is better camouflaged. Dr. Kettlewell wanted to know if natural selection was driving the change in moths.