Question
Daniel was researching the peppered moth. In his research, he found that during the industrial revolution around 1840, factories and power plants burned coal, producing large amounts of soot, ash, and smog. Near these places, black powder covered surfaces, including trees in the surrounding areas.
Daniel concluded that when the trees became dark from the black powder, it created a habitat better suited for dark-colored moths.
This led to the dark-colored moths blending in and the light-colored moths standing out, which meant that the light-colored moths were easily seen by predators and eaten more frequently.
What evidence from the data best defends this conclusion?
The dark and light peppered moth populations were at the same level in both 1875 and 1975.
The light peppered moth population began to increase around 1975. At the same time, the dark peppered moth population began to decrease.
Both the dark and light peppered moth populations were stable for about 75 years.
The dark peppered moth population began to increase around the time of the industrial revolution. At the same time, the light peppered moth population began to decrease
Daniel concluded that when the trees became dark from the black powder, it created a habitat better suited for dark-colored moths.
This led to the dark-colored moths blending in and the light-colored moths standing out, which meant that the light-colored moths were easily seen by predators and eaten more frequently.
What evidence from the data best defends this conclusion?
The dark and light peppered moth populations were at the same level in both 1875 and 1975.
The light peppered moth population began to increase around 1975. At the same time, the dark peppered moth population began to decrease.
Both the dark and light peppered moth populations were stable for about 75 years.
The dark peppered moth population began to increase around the time of the industrial revolution. At the same time, the light peppered moth population began to decrease
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The evidence that best defends Daniel's conclusion is:
**The dark peppered moth population began to increase around the time of the industrial revolution. At the same time, the light peppered moth population began to decrease.**
This evidence directly supports Daniel's claim that the environmental changes caused by industrial pollution favored the darker moths, allowing them to survive and reproduce more successfully than their lighter counterparts. The increase in the dark peppered moth population and the corresponding decrease in the light population aligns with the idea that the darker coloration provided better camouflage in the soot-darkened environment.
**The dark peppered moth population began to increase around the time of the industrial revolution. At the same time, the light peppered moth population began to decrease.**
This evidence directly supports Daniel's claim that the environmental changes caused by industrial pollution favored the darker moths, allowing them to survive and reproduce more successfully than their lighter counterparts. The increase in the dark peppered moth population and the corresponding decrease in the light population aligns with the idea that the darker coloration provided better camouflage in the soot-darkened environment.