The peppered moth and industrial melanism: evolution of a natural selection case study.

ABSTRACT: From the outset multiple causes have been suggested for changes in melanic gene frequency in the peppered moth Biston betularia and other industrial melanic moths. These have included higher intrinsic fitness of melanic forms and selective predation for camouflage. The possible existence and origin of heterozygote advantage has been debated. From the 1950s, as a result of experimental evidence, selective predation became the favoured explanation and is undoubtedly the major factor driving the frequency change. However, modelling and monitoring of declining melanic frequencies since the 1970s indicate either that migration rates are much higher than existing direct estimates suggested or else, or in addition, non-visual selection has a role. Recent molecular work on genetics has revealed th

SUBMITTER: Cook LM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3668657 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature