Question

Would you expect the population of white peppered moths to increase, decrease, or stay the same during the period of Industrial Revolution? Explain your answer in terms of parents passing traits to their offspring.

Answer 1

There are two kinds of peppered moths - the black and the white. When the black and the white breed with each other, the result is either a black or a white moth. These moths protect themselves from predators by camouflaging themselves and blending in with their environment. During the Industrial Revolution, the white peppered moth became rarer, the black peppered moths multiplied. This was because of the pollution brought about by industrialization. The surroundings were dirty and sooty so the black moths were more protected from their enemies. The white moths stood out so they were easily eaten by birds.

Answer 2

The white peppered moths would not be able to easily camouflage themselves from predators. So, their population would have decreased during the Industrial Revolution. As the population decreased, they were less likely to reproduce successfully and pass their traits onto their offspring.

Step-by-step explanation:

Edmentum