Peppered Moths and Natural Selection

Description

This lesson focuses on the concept of natural selection, using the case study of the Peppered Moth (Biston betularia) to explore how environmental factors affect survival and evolution. Students will learn to define natural selection, observe the effects of color variation, identify real-world adaptations, and analyze simulation data to understand population dynamics. The lesson includes a discussion on how industrial pollution changed the moth's environment from light to dark, leading to significant changes in population ratios. By engaging in a digital simulation, students will experience firsthand how these environmental pressures influence survival rates and adapt their predictions based on changing conditions.