Peppered Moth Simulation Ask a Biologist

In the example of the Peppered Moth, what happened to the color of moths over time (after the start of the Industrial Revolution)?

• More black moths than white moths appeared
• More white moths than black moths appeared
• Grey moths developed
• The smoke stained the moths changing their color

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

In the example of the Peppered Moth, why did the population of moths change?

• Predators were able to easily see their prey.
• People hunted lighter colored moths
• White moths were killed by the smoke from the factories
• Moths mood changed to sad, causing them to become dark

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

The process that best describes why the Peppered Moth population changed color over time is:

• adaptation
• natural selection
• mutation
• predator-prey

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

The key factor that impacted the natural selection of the Peppered Moth is...

• history
• environmental factors
• time
• Ms. Melo

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Suppose a certain species of insect lives in the lush green canopy of the rain forest. Some of the insects are bright green in color, and some are bright yellow. Assume there is a natural predator of the insect in the area. What do you expect to happen to the populations of the green and the yellow insects over time?

• The green insect population will increase and the yellow insect population will decrease.
• The green insect population will decrease and the yellow insect population will increase.
• Both insect populations will remain constant over time.
• Both insect populations will increase over time.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Natural selection can operate on predator populations as well as on prey. Suppose that over time trees became covered in lichen and the proportion of light moths increased to nearly 100%. What is the most likely consequence for predator populations?

• Bird populations will decrease, at least for a while.
• Over time, birds with better eyesight will become more common.
• Birds may change hunting strategies or seek other sources of food.
• All of the above.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which of the following statements best describes what will most likely occur to the moth populations in the image below?

• The light moths will be captured by predators more easily than the dark moths, and the population of dark moths will rise.
• The light moths will be captured by predators more easily than the dark moths, and the population of light moths will rise.
• The dark moths will be captured by predators more easily than the light moths, and the dark moths will probably go extinct.
• The light moths will change their wing color to match that of the dark moths.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

What is the most likely explanation of the data shown below?

• There has been a drought in the area that is affecting all life forms.
• The population of natural predators of the moths has gotten smaller.
• The moths are living in an environment with light trees.
• The moths are living in an environment with dark trees.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

The pair of population graphs below display the results of two different five-year hunting cycles, one on light trees and one on dark trees. The population of light-colored moths is shown by the light gray dots, and the population of dark moths is shown by the dark gray dots. How do these results demonstrate natural selection?

• The moth populations shown here demonstrate random fluctuations over time that are not explained by tree color.
• On light trees, individual moths tried to become lighter in color to match the tree background. On dark trees, individual moths tried to become darker in color.
• The moths that were the same color as their background were more likely to survive and reproduce. Over time, the populations of these well-adapted moths increased.
• Small particles of tree bark became embedded in the moth’s wings, causing the moths to become darker on the dark trees and lighter on the light trees. These acquired traits were then passed down to the next generation of moths, causing the populations to change color over time.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Which scientist proposed that natural selection is the primary mechanism of biological evolution? 

• Lamarck
• Newton
• Darwin
• Hawking

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4