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Home > Peppered moth

1 Ecology and life cycle

Main article: peppered moth ecology (including a discussion of resting positions)

In Britain, the peppered moth is univoltine (i.e. it has one generation per year), whilst in south-eastern North America it is bivoltine (two generations per year). The Lepidopteran life cycle consists of four stages; ova (eggs), several larva instars (caterpillars), pupae and imagines (adults). During the day, the moths cryptically rest on trees, where they are predated by birds.

2 Genetics

Main article: peppered moth geneticsThe peppered moth has both melanic and non-melanic forms. This has importance to the case study of evolution mentioned below. A particular morph can be indicated in a standard way by following the species name in the form "f. morph . Morphs NB: It is a co

The are several melanic and non-melanic morphs. In Britain, the typical white speckled morph is known as f. typica, the melanic morph is f. carbonaria and the intermediate phenotypeThe phenotype of an individual organism is either its total physical appearance and constitution, or a specific manifestation of a trait, such as size or eye color, that varies between individuals. Phenotype is determined to some extent by genotype, or by is f. insularia. These are controlled genetically. At present the biochemistry of the melanism remains unknown, though it should be possible for it to be elucidated.

3 Evolution

Main article: peppered moth evolutionThe evolution of the peppered moth over the last two hundred years has been studied in detail. Evolution, more specifically microevolution is defined at the operational level as "a change in the frequency of an allele within a gene pool" ( Dobzhansky, 193

The first carbonaria morph was recorded by Edleston in Manchester in 1848, and over the subsequent years it increased in frequency. This evolution was caused by natural selectionAlternative meaning Natural Selection (computer game . Natural selection is the primary mechanism within the scientific theory of evolution, i. it alters the frequency of alleles within a population. It was first proposed as the main mechanism of evolutio (it is too fast to be due to genetic driftGenetic drift is a mechanism of evolution that acts in concert with natural selection to change the characteristics of species over time. It is a statistical effect that arises from the role of chance in the production of offspring. Like selection, it act), though the increase was not monitored very effectively.

Predation experiments (see below) particularly by Bernard KettlewellDr Henry Bernard Davis Kettlewell ( 24 February 1907 1979) was a British lepidopterist and medical doctor. He was educated at Charterhouse School. Kettlewell famously did experiments on the peppered moth. He died from a drugs overdose in 1979. Though reco established that the agent of selection was birds who predated on the f. carbonaria morph.

The Clean Air Acts reduced levels of pollution, and typica morph frequency has increased, again by natural selection.

A similar process occurred in North AmericaNorth America is the third largest continent in area and the fourth ranked in population. It is bounded on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west by the North Pacific Ocea.

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Topics: Peppered Moth Experiments Article Main Evolution Morph...

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Peppered mothbetularia cognataria parva The peppered moth Biston betularia is a temperate species of night-flying moth notable for its evolution of industrial melanism. Ecology and life cycle Main article: peppered moth ecology (including a discussion of resting posit Peppered moth ecologyIn Britain, the peppered moth is univoltine (i. it has one generation per year), whilst in south-eastern North America it is bivoltine (two generations per year). The Lepidopteran life cycle consists of four stages; ova (eggs), several larval instars (cat Peppered moth geneticsThe peppered moth has both melanic and non-melanic forms. This has importance to the case study of evolution mentioned below. A particular morph can be indicated in a standard way by following the species name in the form "f. morph . Morphs NB: It is a co Peppered moth evolutionThe evolution of the peppered moth over the last two hundred years has been studied in detail. Evolution, more specifically microevolution is defined at the operational level as "a change in the frequency of an allele within a gene pool" ( Dobzhansky, 193 Peppered moth predation experimentsVarious predation experiments have been performed for the peppered moth and each has found differential bird predation. Experimental Design Kettlewell was employed by Ford, who helped gain a grant from the Nuffield Foundation to perform experiments on the Peppered moth alternative theoriesSeveral alternative theories to explain industrial melanism, particularly noted in the peppered moth were proposed during the 1920s and 1930s. Some dissenters within the scientific community have criticised the peppered moth story, notably Sargent et al (