The industrial revolution had a significant impact on the population of peppered moths in Britain. Prior to the industrial revolution, the majority of peppered moths in Britain were light-colored with speckled black markings, which provided them with camouflage against lichen-covered tree bark. However, during the industrial revolution, large amounts of pollution were released into the air, leading to widespread pollution and soot accumulation on trees.
As a result, the light-colored peppered moths were no longer able to blend in with the darkened tree bark, making them more visible to predators. In contrast, a small percentage of the peppered moth population had a genetic mutation that caused them to have dark-colored wings. These dark-colored moths were able to blend in with the soot-covered trees, giving them a survival advantage over the light-colored moths.
Over time, the population of dark-colored peppered moths increased, while the population of light-colored moths decreased. This shift in the peppered moth population is a famous example of natural selection and adaptation in response to environmental changes brought about by the industrial revolution.
How did the industrial revolution impact the population of peppered moths in Britain?
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