What evidence in the scenario (of natural selection for the peppered moth) supports the claim that environmental changes cause changes in populations of organisms?
The evidence in the scenario that supports the claim that environmental changes cause changes in populations of organisms is as follows:
1. Before industrialization, the peppered moth population consisted mainly of lighter-colored moths, which blended well with the light-colored tree bark, providing them with camouflage and protection from predators.
2. Due to industrialization and the resulting pollution, the tree bark darkened, making the lighter-colored peppered moths more visible and exposed to predators.
3. As a result, the darker-colored variant of the peppered moth began to thrive, as they were better camouflaged against the darkened tree bark, providing them with a survival advantage.
4. Over time, the dark-colored variant became more common, while the lighter-colored variant declined in numbers. This change in the population's coloration was directly influenced by the environmental change caused by industrialization.
5. When pollution levels decreased due to environmental regulations, the tree bark lightened again, reversing the advantage for the dark-colored peppered moths. Consequently, the population shifted back towards lighter-colored individuals.
These observations demonstrate the direct correlation between changes in the environment (tree bark coloration) and changes in the populations of organisms (peppered moth coloration).