Question

What happened to the light-colored moths in Britain during the Industrial Revolution?

Answer 1

During the Industrial Revolution in Britain, the increased pollution from factories resulted in the environment becoming darker in color due to soot and pollutants. This change in environment caused the lighter-colored moths, which were more easily spotted by predators against the dark background, to become more vulnerable to predation. Over time, the population of light-colored moths decreased significantly, while the population of darker-colored moths increased as they were better suited to blend in with the darker environment. This phenomenon is known as industrial melanism.