Which factor could have allowed the population of black peppered moths to increase in the late 1800's?
less rain
less predation
less food
less vegetation
less predation
The factor that could have allowed the population of black peppered moths to increase in the late 1800s is less predation.
The factor that could have allowed the population of black peppered moths to increase in the late 1800s is less predation. To understand this, we need to look into the phenomenon known as industrial melanism.
During the late 1800s, widespread industrialization led to the release of large amounts of pollution and soot, particularly in areas with high industrial activity. This resulted in significant darkening of the tree trunks and other surfaces due to the deposition of soot and other pollutants.
The original population of black peppered moths predominantly consisted of light-colored individuals. These moths had evolved to blend in with the light-colored lichens and tree bark found in their natural habitat. However, with the increase in industrial pollution, the light-colored moths became highly visible and more susceptible to predation.
Under this new selection pressure, a genetic variant of the moth with a darker coloration became advantageous. The darker moths were better camouflaged against the darkened tree trunks, making them less visible to predators such as birds. As a result, they experienced a higher survival rate and were able to reproduce more successfully.
Over time, the frequency of the dark-colored genetic variant in the population increased, leading to a higher proportion of dark peppered moths. This process of adaptation to the changing environment due to industrial pollution is an excellent example of natural selection.
Therefore, the factor that allowed the population of black peppered moths to increase in the late 1800s was less predation, as the dark-colored variant experienced a selective advantage and its population grew.