How did the industrial revolution impact the population of peppered moths in Britain?
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.