Natural selection Today we are learning that the better plants and animals are adapted to their environment the more likely they are to survive.

Look at the pictures of the Sumo Wrestler and the soccer player. Why is the soccer player better adapted for playing soccer? Look at the pictures of the Sumo Wrestler and the soccer player.

Meet….. The Peppered Moth Objective: Explain how the Industrial Revolution and the process of natural selection each played a part in modifying the appearance of the peppered moth.

Moths with light wings were camouflaged on trees.

Moths with dark wings were easy to spot by predators.

In nature the light color of this moth is most common. Light colored moths had the advantage.

Along came the industrial revolution – and lots of pollution

This is an example of natural selection. Tree trunks were discolored by the pollution from the factories. Now the black moths had the advantage. The darker moth was better camouflaged on the discolored trees, and within 50 years became the most common form of peppered moth. This is an example of natural selection.

As coal burning stopped the trees returned to their natural color.

Analysis Questions What did the experiment show about how prey are selected by predators?  2. What moth coloration is the best adaptation for a dark (newspaper) background? How do you know? 3. What caused the tree trunks of many trees to turn from a light color to a dark color? 4. Following the industrial revolution, which variety of moth increased? What is the name for this type of change?