How did the Industrial Revolution impact the population of peppered moths in Britain?

Responses

The dark-colored moths became more common.
The dark-colored moths became more common.

The Industrial Revolution caused the proportions of each color morph in the population to become equal.
The Industrial Revolution caused the proportions of each color morph in the population to become equal.

The light-colored moths became more common.
The light-colored moths became more common.

The Industrial Revolution caused the proportions of each color morph in the population to become unequal.
The Industrial Revolution caused the proportions of each color morph in the population to become unequal.

1 answer

The Industrial Revolution had a significant impact on the population of peppered moths in Britain. Prior to this period, the light-colored moths were more common as they blended in better with the lichen-covered trees which were prevalent at that time. However, the Industrial Revolution led to the widespread pollution of the environment, resulting in many trees becoming covered in soot and other forms of industrial pollution. As a result, the dark-colored moths became more common as they were better camouflaged against the darkened tree trunks. This phenomenon is an example of natural selection at work, where the better-adapted individuals are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their advantageous traits to their offspring.