Question

The peppered moth provides a well-known example of natural selection. The light-colored form of the moth was predominant in England before the Industrial Revolution. In the mid-nineteenth century, a dark-colored form appeared. The difference is produced by a dominant allele of one gene. By about 1900, approximately 90% of the moths around industrial areas were dark colored, whereas light-colored moths were still abundant elsewhere. Apparently, birds could really find the light morhs against the soot-darkened background in industrial areas and, therefore, were eating more light moths. Recently, use of cleaner fuels has greatly reduced soot in the landscape, and the dark-colored moths have been disappearing.

1.What forces are causing evolutionary change in these populations?
2. Should the two forma be considered separate species?
3. How would you determine if these are separate species?
4. Give a prediction for what future generations of moths will look like and explain why.

Answer 1

a) Natural selection

b) Different

c) Different genotypes

d) Evolution of dark colored moth species from the light colored moth species

Step-by-step explanation:

a) The pressure of selection due to the changing color of bark of tree because of air pollution caused by industries leads to natural selection in a way that dark colored moth are emerging

b) Yes the two forms of moths are two different species.

c) The genotype of the two species is different

d) All the moths will be of dark color in order to save themselves from predation. This will lead to evolution of dark colored moth species from the light colored moth species and hence will lead to extinction of light colored moth