Natural Selection in Peppered Moths

The Peppered Moth, known scientifically as Biston betularia, is a classic example of natural selection in action. In the early 1800s, most Peppered Moths had a light coloration that allowed them to blend in with the lichen-covered trees in their environment. However, during the Industrial Revolution in England, soot from factories darkened the trees, making the lighter moths more visible to predators.

This shift in the environment led to an increase in the frequency of dark-colored individuals, known as the melanistic form of the moth. By the late 20th century, as pollution levels decreased and the trees regained their lighter coloration, the frequency of the light-colored moths increased once again. This phenomenon illustrates the dynamic relationship between environmental factors and evolutionary changes in populations.