Question

Provide an example to illustrate how an adaptation may lead to natural selection. the example should be detailed enough to show that you understand the linkage.

Answer 1

I have chosen to use peppered moths and black moths as my example of adaptation.

The species called peppered moths is widespread in Britain and Ireland. This type of moth got its name due to the grey- and black-speckled pattern it has. This structural trait provides the peppered moths with camouflage when resting on tree trunks. A genetic mutation caused some of the moths to have almost black wings. However, moths with this mutation had a smaller population, because these forms were not completely camouflaged when at rest and predators could spot them easily. Thus, the population of the pale peppered moths was higher than that of the black moths.

The nineteenth century brought with it a lot of industrialization. The industrialization created a tremendous amount of soot and air pollution. This led to blackening of urban tree trunks and walls. So, black moths had better camouflage on tree trunks than the peppered moths did. Due to this, there was an increase in the population of black moths, and a decrease in the population of peppered moths as birds more easily preyed upon them because they were easier to see on the dark tree trunks.

Thus, the species of moth that adapted to the changing environmental conditions were survived.

Answer 2

So basically adaption could lead to natural selection by the enviromental changes. So for example: Fish species that live in dark/cave areas have vestigial, nonfunctioning eyes because when the ancestors ended up in the caves there was no longer any natural selection that mantained the function for the fishs eyes.