1. The peppered moth population in England changed from mostly light-colored to mostly dark-colored during the Industrial Revolution due to pollution darkening tree bark, making dark moths less visible to predators.
2. The light-colored moths became more vulnerable to predation as soot covered trees, reducing their camouflage against predators like birds.
3. The dark-colored moths had a survival advantage because they blended better with the soot-covered trees, leading to higher survival and reproduction rates.
4. Natural selection favored the dark-colored moths during industrialization, causing their population to increase over generations while the light-colored moths declined.
5. After pollution controls were introduced and tree bark became lighter again, the light-colored moths regained their camouflage advantage, leading to an increase in their population.
6. This example demonstrates natural selection: environmental changes favor traits that improve survival and reproduction, causing shifts in population characteristics over time.
7. The peppered moth case is a classic example of evolution by natural selection because it shows how selective pressures can rapidly alter allele frequencies in a population.
8. The change in moth coloration was not due to individual moths changing color but to differential survival and reproduction based on inherited traits.
9. Scientists observed the shift in moth populations over time through field studies and experiments, confirming the role of predation and camouflage in natural selection.
10. This case study illustrates that evolution is not always slow; it can occur rapidly when environmental pressures are strong and consistent.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of peppered moth worksheet.
