Which statement is correct about the population of peppered moths in modern Britain? (1 point)
Responses
The dark-colored moths are most common due to antipollution regulations.
The dark-colored moths are most common due to dark-colored tree bark.
The light-colored moths are most common due to light-colored tree bark.
The light-colored moths are most common due to antipollution regulations.-the correct answer
The light-colored moths are most common due to antipollution regulations.
The correct statement about the population of peppered moths in modern Britain is:
The light-colored moths are most common due to antipollution regulations.
To determine the correct statement about the population of peppered moths in modern Britain, we can utilize the knowledge of natural selection and the history of industrial pollution.
First, we need to understand the background of this phenomenon. Peppered moths are known for their ability to adapt to their environment through natural selection. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, the moths' light-colored wings provided them with camouflage against lichen-covered tree bark, making them less visible to predators. However, with the widespread pollution resulting from industrial activities, many trees became darkened by soot, causing the dark-colored variant of the peppered moth to become more camouflaged. This shift in coloration occurred because the dark moths were less likely to be seen and eaten by predators on the darkened trees, enabling them to survive and reproduce more successfully.
Now, let's analyze the given statements:
1. "The dark-colored moths are most common due to antipollution regulations."
- This statement is incorrect. Antipollution regulations would have a minimal direct effect on the population of peppered moths, as their coloration is primarily influenced by the natural selection process.
2. "The dark-colored moths are most common due to dark-colored tree bark."
- This statement is correct. As mentioned earlier, the industrial pollution led to the darkening of tree bark, creating an environment where the dark-colored peppered moths had an advantage, and therefore, their population increased.
3. "The light-colored moths are most common due to light-colored tree bark."
- This statement is incorrect. The light-colored tree bark would have been advantageous to light-colored moths in the pre-industrial era. However, the pollution-induced darkening of tree bark caused the population of light-colored moths to decline.
4. "The light-colored moths are most common due to antipollution regulations."
- This statement is incorrect. While antipollution regulations may have contributed to the reduction in pollution levels, which may have resulted in cleaner and potentially lighter-colored tree bark, it is the dark-colored moths that have become most common due to the effect of industrial pollution.
Therefore, the correct statement about the population of peppered moths in modern Britain is:
"The dark-colored moths are most common due to dark-colored tree bark."