Name: __________________________
Date: ____________________
The Peppered Moth
Introduction
Today you will be learning about another example of evolution
by natural selection. Similar to antibiotic resistance, this
evolution took place over a short amount of time.
During the 1950s, a scientist named Dr. Kettlewell began to
collect data about the evolution of the peppered moth population in England. Originally light in
color, this species of moths in England have undergone a change from light to dark. Similar
observations have been made in other nations, including the United States.
What should I learn from this activity?
1. What caused the evolution of the peppered moth population?
2. How does peppered moth evolution show natural selection?
Procedure
Use the website http://pepperedmoths.weebly.com/ to find your answers. Questions are organized
into categories that match those found on the website.
________________________________________________________________________________
Life Cycle of the Peppered Moth 1. Why are these moths called “peppered” moths? 2. What animals eat the peppered moths? 3. What is lichen, and what color is it? 4. How long to peppered moths typically live? Pollution and Peppered Moths 5. Where and when was the @irst black form of the moth found? 6. What was the Industrial Revolution? 7. What was causing the trees to change color? 8. What originally caused the dark coloring in the @irst dark moth? Name: __________________________
Date: ____________________
Dr. Kettlewell tests Natural Selection 10. What is an entomologist? 11. Write down ONE of Kettlewell’s predictions. 12. Dark moths were found in what parts of the country? 13. Why did dark moths have a survival advantage? A Birds-­‐Eye View of Natural Selection Open the simulation and play the role of the bird in both the dark and light forest. Try to behave as a bird would behave -­‐ choosing the moths that you can see the most easily. At the end of each simulation, record the percentage of moths captured in the table below. Percentage of Dark Moths
Percentage of Light Moths
Light Forest
Dark Forest
Final Analysis 1. How is the evolution of the peppered moth an example of natural selection? 2. Complete the table below to show your understanding of how the moth population evolved. Variation
What is the difference in the species?
Selection
What is selected for?
What is selected against?
Reproduction
Who gets to reproduce? What will offspring look like?
Evolution
How will the species change over time?