English Peppered Moth
Before 1845 most of the peppered moths in Manchester, England were light in
color. The light colored moths were difficult prey for birds because they blended with
the light-gray bark of the trees. The few black peppered moths stood out in their
surroundings and were an easy target for the birds. During this period, there was a large
population of light-colored moths and a very small population of dark-colored moths.
Beginning in 1845, smoke and soot created by the Industrial Revolution began to
darken the bark of the trees. In a period of a few years, the population of light-colored
moths fell sharply while the population of the dark-colored moths rose dramatically.
Can the changes in the moth population be explained by means of natural selection?
1. Describe the moth population before 1845.
2. What environmental conditions favored the light-colored peppered moths?
3. What animal is the natural predator of peppered moths?
English Peppered Moth
Before 1845 most of the peppered moths in Manchester, England were light in
color. The light colored moths were difficult prey for birds because they blended with
the light-gray bark of the trees. The few black peppered moths stood out in their
surroundings and were an easy target for the birds. During this period, there was a large
population of light-colored moths and a very small population of dark-colored moths.
Beginning in 1845, smoke and soot created by the Industrial Revolution began to
darken the bark of the trees. In a period of a few years, the population of light-colored
moths fell sharply while the population of the dark-colored moths rose dramatically.
Can the changes in the moth population be explained by means of natural selection?
1. Describe the moth population before 1845.
2. What environmental conditions favored the light-colored peppered moths?
3. What animal is the natural predator of peppered moths?
4. What color of peppered moth was the easiest prey before 1845?
5. What happened beginning in 1845 to change the environment?
6. Which kind of moth became the most successful following the changes to the
environment?
7. Which moths reproduced more of their kind after 1845?
8. How would Darwin explain the story
of the light and dark colored peppered
moth?
4. What color of peppered moth was the easiest prey before 1845?
5. What happened beginning in 1845 to change the environment?
6. Which kind of moth became the most successful following the changes to the
environment?
7. Which moths reproduced more of their kind after 1845?
8. How would Darwin explain the story of
the light and dark colored peppered
moth?