Explain the expected to the moth population in the 19th century in terms of natural selection

Answer 1

In the 19th century, the moth population experienced a significant shift in its coloration due to natural selection. Prior to industrialization, most moths were light in color to blend in with their environment and camouflage themselves from predators. However, with the onset of the Industrial Revolution and the widespread use of coal as a fuel source, the environment became polluted, leading to the darkening of tree trunks.

As a result, lighter colored moths became more visible to predators against the darkened background, while darker colored moths were able to blend in and avoid being eaten. This led to a shift in the population, with darker moths becoming more prevalent as they had a better chance of surviving and reproducing in the new polluted environment.

This phenomenon, known as industrial melanism, is a classic example of natural selection at work. The moths with advantageous traits (in this case, darker coloration) were more likely to survive and pass on their genes to the next generation, while those with less advantageous traits (lighter coloration) were more likely to be eaten and less likely to reproduce. Over time, this led to a change in the overall population of moths, with darker individuals becoming predominant in areas affected by industrial pollution.