Evolutionary Ecology and Natural Selection

Data and Analysis Read the background information and answer the questions as you go. Life СусІе of the Peppered Moth 1. Why are these moths called "peppered moths?" These moths are called "peppered moths" because of the speckled or peppered appearance of their wings, which are typically a mix of light and dark spots. 2. What animals eat the peppered moth? Animals such as birds are known to eat peppered moths. З. What is а ·Iichen? Lichen is a symbiotic association between a fungus and a photosynthetic partner, usually algae or cyanobacteria, that results in a structure with distinct properties. 4. What do the larvae of the moth eat? The larvae of the peppered moth primarily feed on leaves of trees and shrubs, particularly oak trees. 5. How do peppered moths spend the winter? Peppered moths spend the winter months in hibernation as pupae in a cocoon. 6. Moths that have more dark spots than the average moth are called what? Moths with more dark spots than the average moth are called "melanic" moths. lmpact of Pollution 7. Where was the virst black form of the moth found? The first black form of the moth was found in Manchester, England. 8. What was the lndustrial Revolution? The Industrial Revolution was a period of significant technological, economic, and social change, characterized by the transition to new manufacturing processes in Europe and the United States. 9. What was causing the different colors in the moths? Pollution from industrial activities, particularly the burning of coal, was causing the different colors in the moths due to the soot and pollutants darkening the environment. 1 О. What is natural selection? Natural selection is the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. Over time, this process leads to the accumulation of favorable traits in a population. 11. Who suggested that peppered moths were an example of natura\ se\ection? Bernard Kettlewell suggested that peppered moths were an example of natural selection in action. 12. What is industrial melanism? Industrial melanism is the phenomenon where darker-colored organisms become more prevalent in industrial areas due to environmental pollution. Kettlewell's Experiments 13. What is an entomologist? An entomologist is a scientist who studies insects. 14. How do scientists test theories? Scientists test theories by conducting experiments, gathering data, and analyzing results to determine if they support or refute the proposed hypothesis. 15. Write down ONE of Kettlewell's predictions. One of Kettlewell's predictions was that dark-colored moths would have higher survival rates in polluted areas compared to light-colored moths. 16. Dark moths were found in what parts of the country? Dark moths were found predominantly in industrialized areas with high levels of pollution. 17. How did Kettlewell directly study the moths? Kettlewell directly studied the moths by releasing them into different environments and observing their survival rates. 18. Why did dark moths have а survival advantage? Dark moths had a survival advantage in polluted areas because their coloration provided better camouflage against soot-covered tree trunks. 19. When Kettlewell recaptured the marked moths, what did he find? When Kettlewell recaptured the marked moths, he found that the survival rates of dark-colored moths were higher in polluted areas, supporting his hypothesis. 20. Where did Kettlewell publish his findings? Kettlewell published his findings in various scientific journals and articles. Final Analysis 21. Explain how the соІог of the moths increases ог decreases their chances of survival. The color of the moths can increase or decrease their chances of survival depending on their environment. In polluted areas where tree trunks are darkened by soot, dark-colored moths have better camouflage and are less likely to be eaten by predators. In cleaner environments, lighter-colored moths may have better camouflage against lighter tree trunks. 23. Explain the concept of "natural selection" using your moths as an example. Natural selection, as demonstrated by the peppered moths, is the process by which organisms with traits better suited to their environment have a higher chance of surviving and reproducing, passing on those advantageous traits to future generations. In this example, the prevalence of dark-colored moths increased in polluted areas over time due to their better camouflage against darkened tree trunks, illustrating natural selection in action. 24. What would happen if there were по predators in the forest? Would the colors of the moths change over time? Defend your answer? If there were no predators in the forest, the colors of the moths might not change significantly over time, as there would be no selective pressure favoring one coloration over another. However, other factors such as changes in vegetation or climate could still influence the moth population dynamics.