Industrial melanism in England after 1850 is an excellent example of Natural selection. Explain how ?

Question :Industrial melanism in England after 1850 is an excellent example of Natural selection. Explain how ?

The correct answer is -Industrial melanism in England after 1850 is an example of natural selection because it shows how the frequency of a particular trait can change over time in response to changes in the environment. Before the industrial revolution, the light-colored form of the peppered moth (Biston betularia) was more common in England because it was better camouflaged against the lichens that covered trees. However, during the industrial revolution, pollution from factories killed the lichens and darkened the tree bark, making the dark-colored form of the peppered moth more difficult to spot for predators.

As a result, the frequency of the dark-colored form of the peppered moth increased dramatically in industrial areas, while the frequency of the light-colored form decreased. This change in the frequency of the two forms of the peppered moth is an example of natural selection, where the environmental pressures favored the survival and reproduction of individuals with dark coloration over those with light coloration. The dark coloration in the peppered moth became more common over time because it provided a survival advantage in the polluted environment.

The Industrial melanism in England after 1850 thus provides evidence that natural selection can produce rapid changes in the frequency of traits in response to changes in the environment, and it also supports Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection.