Apologia Science Biology Mod 10. A closer look at the White and Black-peppered moth.

Think 19th century Great Britain during the Industrial Revolution.  Think mass production of goods in factories, a lot of factories.  These factories meant power and money, a lot of power and money which everyone wanted even at the expense of the health of the population and all other livings things within range of the black smoke billowing out of the factories that filled the air. Black smoke as thick as tar.  Smoke so polluted that the trees in the woods adjacent to these factories began to turn black from soot from prolonged exposure of the smoke from the factories. 

What does this have to do with the White and Black-peppered moths?  It is actually one of the most famous accounts of the natural selection process there is.  It is also one of Darwin's most known theories with regards to evolution.  

You see, the White-peppered moths and Black-peppered moths filled the woods around all parts of Great Britain at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.  For the White-peppered moths, their protection from predators such as birds was to blend in/camouflage with the Lichen on the trees.  The Black-peppered moths, however, did not blend in so well and were more vulnerable.  The population of the Black-peppered moths began to dwindle down. 

As I mentioned before, the trees began to take on the black color from the polluted air which made blending in for the White-peppered moth a very difficult task.  This is where Darwin's theory of natural selection comes in.  The White-peppered moths had to change and adapt to this changing environment.  Eventually over generations of offspring, the black version of the peppered moths thrived and outnumbered that of the white version of the moths.  Natural selection always favors the most suited for the environment which in this case was in favor of the Black-peppered moth.  Pretty cool!

Here is a fantastic animated source.
Read more here.
You can find a summary and a quiz here.