Question
How did the industrial revolution change the peppered moth's environment?
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GPT 3.5
The industrial revolution drastically changed the peppered moth's environment by causing widespread pollution from factories. The dark soot and pollutants released from burning coal coated trees and buildings in urban areas, turning them dark in color. This change in coloration made the light-colored peppered moths easier to spot by predators against the dark backgrounds, leading to a decline in their population.
However, a genetic mutation in some peppered moths resulted in a dark coloration that allowed them to blend in with their polluted surroundings, giving them a survival advantage. This led to an increase in the population of the dark-colored moths, while the light-colored moths suffered from higher rates of predation. This phenomenon is known as industrial melanism and is a classic example of natural selection in action.
However, a genetic mutation in some peppered moths resulted in a dark coloration that allowed them to blend in with their polluted surroundings, giving them a survival advantage. This led to an increase in the population of the dark-colored moths, while the light-colored moths suffered from higher rates of predation. This phenomenon is known as industrial melanism and is a classic example of natural selection in action.