In peppered moth populations, light and dark moth are selected for in different environments which type of selection is this and what would the distribution curve all peppered moths look like

Answer 1

This is an example of disruptive selection, where individuals with extreme phenotypes (light and dark moths) are favored over intermediate phenotypes. In this case, light moths are favored in environments with lighter backgrounds, while dark moths are favored in environments with darker backgrounds.

The distribution curve of peppered moths would have two peaks, with one peak representing the frequency of light moths and the other peak representing the frequency of dark moths. The curve would show a bimodal distribution, with fewer individuals in the intermediate shades compared to the extremes. This reflects the selective pressures favoring the extreme phenotypes in different environments.