NUMBER OF PEPPERED MOTHS RELEASED AND RECAPTURED IN POLLUTED AND UNPOLLUTED AREAS IN ENGLAND
1. The percentage of moths recaptured in each experiment
LOCATION | NUMBER OF FLECKED MOTHS | NUMBER OF DARK MOTHS |
Dorset(unpolluted) | released | 469 | 488 |
| Recaptured | 62 | 34 |
| percentage recaptured | 12.5% | 6.97% |
Birmingham(polluted) | Released | 137 | 493 |
| Recaptured | 18 | 136 |
| percentage recaptured | 13.14% | 27.59% |
2. The differences in survival rates in the polluted and unpolluted environments
In an unpolluted area of Dorset, 12.5% of the flecked moths and 6.97% of the dark moths were recaptured which means that there were more flecked moths survived. While in a polluted area of Birmingham, 13.14% of the flecked moths and 27.59% of the dark moths were recaptured which also means that there were more dark moths survived.
3. Any factors that may have influenced data in this study
Insects, like peppered moths, have short life cycle. So the changes or shifting in the characteristics of their population when adapting to environmental changes happen quickly. Based on the data, the dominance of moths in two areas varied. Before, it was found that dark variety of moths were very rare but with the Industrial Revolution in England, more dark moths survived in polluted area of Birmingham while in the rural and unpolluted area of Dorset, more flecked moths were found. So, this change was may be caused by the environmental changes where they lived and by their genetic makeup and behavior. During the day, they rest motionless on trees and their behavior and coloration camouflage them. And black coloration of moths is controlled by a single, dominant gene.
Dorset (unpolluted)
* moth-eating birds, visual predators, captured dark moths which were easily distinguished and seen because there were no pollutants
* flecked moths camouflage on trees which allows them to survive and reproduce
* dark moths...