Peppered Moth and Natural Selection

Evolution is defined as the change in the heritable traits of biological populations over successive generations. One of the key mechanisms through which evolution occurs is natural selection. This process favors individuals with traits that are advantageous for survival and reproduction in a given environment. Over time, these advantageous traits become more common within the population.

Consider the case of the peppered moth, which exhibits a well-documented example of natural selection. Before the Industrial Revolution in England, most peppered moths were light-colored, which allowed them to blend in with the lichen-covered trees where they rested. However, during the Industrial Revolution, pollution darkened the trees, leading to an increase in the frequency of dark-colored moths. As the environment changed, the dark-colored moths had a selective advantage and were more likely to survive and reproduce.

Based on this example, which of the following statements most accurately reflects the mechanism of natural selection as observed in the peppered moth?