Peppered Moth Simulation Assignment
Peppered Moth Simulation Assignment
1. These moths are called “peppered moths” because of the dark spots on their wings
2. Some of the peppered moth’s predators include flycatchers, nuthatches and the European robin.
3. Lichens are fungi that cover the barks of trees. The colour of lichens look very similar to the pattern of the peppered moth’s wings
4. The larvae of the moth eat leaves from birch, willow, and oak trees.
5. Since the peppered moth lives less than one year, during the winter time, the moth larvae changes into pupae to avoid death.
6. Moths with more dark spots than average are called insularia.
7. The first black form of the moth was found near the centre of Manchester.
8. The Industrial Revolution was the time during which factories were being built and more industries began to form.
9. As a result of more factories, the coal and fuel created dark smoke that covered the surrounding countryside. Trees that had been covered in lichen were now covered in soot, making it darker. This caused the increase of dark moths because they had a better chance of avoiding predation and thus passing on the dark coloured genes to their offspring. As time passed, the number of dark moths increased while the number of light moths decreased.
10. Natural selection was a theory originally proposed by Charles Darwin that stated if one characteristic caused a specific individual to live longer, they would have more offspring. As the trait is passed on, more individuals in the species will look like the successful individual with the trait. Therefore, a species will change or evolve over time.
11. J.W. Tutt first suggested that peppered moths were an example of natural selection in 1896.
12. Industrial melanism is the prevalence of dark coloured varieties of animals in industrial areas where they are better camouflaged and can avoid predation.
13. An entomologist is a scientist who studies insects.
14. Scientists test theories by making
1. These moths are called “peppered moths” because of the dark spots on their wings
2. Some of the peppered moth’s predators include flycatchers, nuthatches and the European robin.
3. Lichens are fungi that cover the barks of trees. The colour of lichens look very similar to the pattern of the peppered moth’s wings
4. The larvae of the moth eat leaves from birch, willow, and oak trees.
5. Since the peppered moth lives less than one year, during the winter time, the moth larvae changes into pupae to avoid death.
6. Moths with more dark spots than average are called insularia.
7. The first black form of the moth was found near the centre of Manchester.
8. The Industrial Revolution was the time during which factories were being built and more industries began to form.
9. As a result of more factories, the coal and fuel created dark smoke that covered the surrounding countryside. Trees that had been covered in lichen were now covered in soot, making it darker. This caused the increase of dark moths because they had a better chance of avoiding predation and thus passing on the dark coloured genes to their offspring. As time passed, the number of dark moths increased while the number of light moths decreased.
10. Natural selection was a theory originally proposed by Charles Darwin that stated if one characteristic caused a specific individual to live longer, they would have more offspring. As the trait is passed on, more individuals in the species will look like the successful individual with the trait. Therefore, a species will change or evolve over time.
11. J.W. Tutt first suggested that peppered moths were an example of natural selection in 1896.
12. Industrial melanism is the prevalence of dark coloured varieties of animals in industrial areas where they are better camouflaged and can avoid predation.
13. An entomologist is a scientist who studies insects.
14. Scientists test theories by making