Industrial melanism - A respond to Environment changes
Industrial melanism is a phenomenon of the time. The phenomenon of industrial melanism did not exist immediately but it was an evolutionary process which appeared due to changes in the environment.
The Animals exhibit industrial melanism found in highly industrialized areas, and these animals change their body color to avoid detection by the predators. This phenomenon is explained by Darwin in his theory called survival of the fittest. The animals that are capable of changing their body color according to surroundings ,are able to survive long enough to reproduce. As a result, they pass their ability to change color to their offspring.
Examples of Industrial Melanism There are very few examples of industrial melanism. The best-known and most common example is moths that were found in England.
Originally, moths were light-colored living on the light-colored lichens that cover the trees. Their light color made camouflage with the light color trunk of the tree so that they were not being easily detected by their predators.
During the Industrial Revolution, coal-powered plants emitted both sulfur dioxide and black soot. The sulfur dioxide killed off much of the lichen, while the soot darkened light-colored trees and stones. Light-colored moths were easily picked by birds and their numbers decreased progressively. Meanwhile, the darker colored moths lived longer and reproduced.
Two-spot ladybugs were found in two color patterns - red with black spots and black with red spots.
Now it has been found that the
the majority of ladybugs are red with black spots. It was an adaptive advantage for red ladybugs because these ladybugs are easier to see and look distasteful to predators because of their color. It makes them less likely to be eaten.
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