Final answer:
Before the Industrial Revolution, light-colored peppered moths were prevalent because they were camouflaged in the pristine environment, which protected them from predation. With the onset of industrial soot covering trees, dark-colored moths gained a survival advantage, leading to a shift in the population's coloration. This demonstrates directional selection influenced by environmental changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mechanism of trait transfer that was important to the typica moth population before the Industrial Revolution in England involved the concept of natural selection. Before industrialization, environments were pristine and light-colored peppered moths were better camouflaged against light-colored trees and lichens, giving them a survival advantage. Predators such as birds would more easily spot and prey on darker moths, making them less common. This natural camouflage helped ensure the predominance of light-colored moths in the population, which was an example of directional selection.
When soot from the Industrial Revolution began to cover the trees, this reversed the moths' survival rates. Light-colored moths stood out against the now-sooty environment, making them more vulnerable to predation, while dark-colored moths became better camouflaged. Over time, the prevalence of darker moths increased due to their higher survival rate, again illustrating directional selection where the environment determines which traits are favorable.