Question
According to Charles Darwin why did the peppered moths evolve and how did it come about?
Answers
GPT 3.5
According to Charles Darwin, the evolution of the peppered moths (Biston betularia) occurred in response to environmental changes, specifically the industrial revolution in England during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Prior to the industrial revolution, the majority of peppered moths had a light-colored or "peppered" appearance, which allowed them to blend in with lichen-covered tree trunks. This camouflage was advantageous as it helped them evade predators such as birds.
However, with the advent of industrialization, the soot and pollution from factories heavily darkened the tree trunks and polluted the surrounding environment. This resulted in a significant change in the habitat's appearance, making the lighter-colored peppered moths more visible to predators, while the dark-colored ones became better camouflaged.
As a result, the previously less prevalent dark-colored variation of the peppered moth had a higher survival rate, as they were less likely to be spotted by predators. This led to an increase in the frequency of the dark-colored form in the population, as they had a higher likelihood of surviving and reproducing.
This evolutionary process, driven by natural selection, is known as industrial melanism. The selective pressure caused by the pollution in the environment favored the individuals with traits that provided better camouflage, leading to the observed increase in the proportion of dark-colored peppered moths over time.
Prior to the industrial revolution, the majority of peppered moths had a light-colored or "peppered" appearance, which allowed them to blend in with lichen-covered tree trunks. This camouflage was advantageous as it helped them evade predators such as birds.
However, with the advent of industrialization, the soot and pollution from factories heavily darkened the tree trunks and polluted the surrounding environment. This resulted in a significant change in the habitat's appearance, making the lighter-colored peppered moths more visible to predators, while the dark-colored ones became better camouflaged.
As a result, the previously less prevalent dark-colored variation of the peppered moth had a higher survival rate, as they were less likely to be spotted by predators. This led to an increase in the frequency of the dark-colored form in the population, as they had a higher likelihood of surviving and reproducing.
This evolutionary process, driven by natural selection, is known as industrial melanism. The selective pressure caused by the pollution in the environment favored the individuals with traits that provided better camouflage, leading to the observed increase in the proportion of dark-colored peppered moths over time.