Peppered Moth Simulation
Lab
Name:_____________________
Class#:_____________________
www.biologycorner.com/worksheets/pepperedmoth.html
Definitions Please define the following terms:
Variation
Natural
Selection
Adaptation
Pre-Questions
1. Sometimes an allele that is an advantage in one environment can be selected against in a different
environment. Describe a possible situation where the environment changes and an adaptation becomes
harmful.
2. What do you expect would happen to the number of individuals in a population that have an allele that
was once a benefit but became harmful as the environment changed Why do you expect to see this?
Simulation
Go to the link for the moth simulation and read the text in the green bar to the left, then answer the questions
below.
3. What change happened to the environment during the industrial revolution in England?
4. What changes have been observed in the moth population in England since 1848?
Click on the link “Run Lichen (light colored) forest” at the bottom right. Immediately click the pause button on the
bottom right of the simulation. Record your starting population data below.
Blue jay Health
% Dark Moths
% Light Moths
Starting population
(Lichen Forest)
After 5 minutes
(Lichen forest)
Starting population
Soot Forest)
After 5 minutes
(Soot forest)
Press the start button on the timer at the top of the page and press the pause button again to start the blue jay.
Then start eating moths by moving the blue jay over them and clicking on them. Do this for five minutes then hit
pause. Record your results in the table above and answer the questions below..
5. Did you click on light or dark moths more? Why?
6. What happened to the number of moths of each color? Why?
7. Is it an adaptation to be light or dark? Why?
Click on the link “Run Soot (dark colored) forest” at the bottom right. Immediately click the pause button on the
bottom right of the simulation. Record your starting population data in the table above.
Press the start button on the timer at the top of the page and press the pause button again to start the blue jay.
Then start eating moths by moving the blue jay over them and clicking on them. Do this for five minutes then hit
pause. Record your results in the table above and answer the questions below..
8. Did you click on light or dark moths more? Why?
9. What happened to the number of moths of each color? Why?
10. Is it an adaptation to be light or dark? Why?
11. Did the allele that helped the moths survive change? Why?