Question

If 10 Typica moth (dd) and 90 Carbonaria moth (Dd, DD) were released into a polluted forest what would happen over several generations? Check all that apply:

A) The Typica moth population would decline.

B) The Carbonaria moth population would have a reproductive advantage in the polluted forest.

C) The Carbonaria moth would be easily spotted by predators on the dark polluted trees.

D) The Carbonaria moth population would decline.

E) The recessive allele frequency would decrease each generation.

Answer 1

The concept of industrial melanism comes into picture when we see this question. The dark colored Carbonaria species will hide in the polluted forest and would have a camoflauge advantage over the Typica species which are brown in color and are easily spotted by the predators. Hence eventually Typica species would decline and Carbonaria species would increase as a result of industrial melanism concept. Hence the correct statements that apply are:

a. The typica moth population would decline. because it is brown in color and it will have the disadvantage of not having the camoflauge ability due to the dark trees in polluted areas.

b. The Carbonaria moth population would have a reproductive advantage in the polluted forest.

e. The recessive allele population would decrease each generation.

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