Question

Which term best describes the change from more light-colored moths to more dark-colored moth:

a. competition
b. adaptation
c. acquired
d. overpopulation

Answer 1

The change from more light-colored moths to more dark-colored moths due to the sooty environment after the Industrial Revolution is an example of directional selection, where darker moths had better survival rates.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term that best describes the change from more light-colored moths to more dark-colored moths as a result of the environmental changes brought on by the Industrial Revolution is directional selection. This evolutionary process favors one extreme phenotype over the other, leading to a shift in the population's phenotype distribution towards that favored form.

In this case, the light-colored moths were initially favored in a pristine environment, as they could better blend in and avoid predation. However, post-Industrial Revolution, the environment became sooty, making the darker-colored moths more camouflaged and thus more likely to survive and reproduce. Over time, this selective pressure caused an increase in the frequency of the dark-colored moths. This is a classic example of directional selection due to environmental changes.

Answer 2

The correct option is B) adaptation

Step-by-step explanation:

The features and properties of an organism that make it favourable to live in an environment are termed as the adaptations of that organism. Over time, evolution occurs and organisms with better adaptations survive as they are better suited to live in a particular environment. The light-coloured moths were adapted to live on Earth when the colour of the trees had not gone dark. With time, as the colour of trees got darker, the moth had to change colour to be better adapted to live on Earth.