How might pollution and soot affect the peppered moth?
What effect do you think the soot that covered trees, buildings, and other surfaces would have on the peppered moth population?
Select all correct answers.
A. The peppered moth population would grow rapidly.
B. There would be no effect on the peppered moth population.
C. The frequency of dark moths in the peppered moth population would increase.
D. The frequency of light moths in the peppered moth population would decrease.
E. The peppered moth population would die off.
Answer (2)
Pollution from soot affects the peppered moth by increasing the frequency of dark moths due to better camouflage while decreasing the frequency of light moths which become more vulnerable to predation. The overall population dynamics change based on environmental adaptations. ;
Pollution and soot increased the frequency of dark peppered moths as they adapted to better camouflage in their polluted environment, while the frequency of light moths decreased due to higher visibility to predators. This demonstrates natural selection based on environmental changes. Therefore, the correct options are C and D.
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