ANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -During the Industrial Revolution pollution from factories darkened tree trunks. By 1886 dark-colored moths were common and light-colored moths were rare. What caused this change in the moth population? Dark-colored moths were attracted to the dark tree trunks.

Detailed explanation-2: -Scientists have discovered the specific mutation that famously turned moths black during the Industrial Revolution. In an iconic evolutionary case study, a black form of the peppered moth rapidly took over in industrial parts of the UK during the 1800s, as soot blackened the tree trunks and walls of its habitat.

Detailed explanation-3: -Before 1850, most moths in England were light and lived in light-colored trees. When the industrial revolution hit England, black soot was released into the air and stuck to the trees, causing them to darken in coloration. During this time, light moth populations decreased and the number of black moths increased.

Detailed explanation-4: -As a result of the common light-coloured lichens and English trees, therefore, the light-coloured moths were much more effective at hiding from predators, and the frequency of the dark allele was very low, at about 0.01%.

Detailed explanation-5: -But as the Industrial revolution began to really take off in the 1800s, pollution from the dense industrial smoke and soot killed off lichens and darkened tree trunks and walls in towns and cities. As a result, the paler moths became more visible to predators, while the darker variety became more camouflaged.