Peppered Moth Game

Objective: Simulate changes in moth population due to pollution and predation, and observe how species can
change over time.

Go to: https://askabiologist.asu.edu/peppered-moths-game/play.html and read each

section before you play the game, answer the questions as you go.

Click onPeppered Moth

Where do peppered moths live? England, Europe, and North America

How do the moth larvae survive predators? Cold winters

What do the moths do during the winter? Lay eggs

What color is the "typica" version of the moths? Dark spots

What color is the "carbonaria" version?

How do adult moths survive predation? cacoons

How big are the peppered moths?

When do peppered moths eggs hatch?

What does the larvae feed on?

Depending on what the larvae is eating, what characteristic do they have to better camouflage?

How long do the peppered moths live?

What is the name given to the middle color of moths?

What are the predators of the peppered moths?

What is the name given to a part fungus part algae/bacteria that covers the bark of trees?

Click onNatural Selection

What was the industrial revolution?

What was causing the change in the color of the moths?

What is natural selection?

Why would dark moths have an advantage?

In what year did Edleston catch a totally black peppered moth?

What characteristic change happened to trees during the Industrial Revolution?

What caused the dark color in moths which was passed to its offspring?

Which scientist proposed the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection?

What is industrial melanism?

Click onDr. Kettlewell

What is an entomologist?

How do scientists test theories?

Dr. Kettlewelll predicted that clean forests would have colored moths,
and polluted forests would have colored moths.

How did Kettlewell test his hypothesis?

How did Kettlewell determine if moths lived longer than others?

Play the Game

Light Forest Total Chart of % Dark Moths Chart of % Light Moths

Moths
Eaten
1st Attempt
2nd Attempt
3rd Attempt
Average XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
15. Complete the data table for the light forest. “Snip” the charts and paste them in the table.
Complete the data table for the dark forest. “Snip” the charts and paste them in the table.

Dark Forest Total Chart of % Dark Moths Chart of % Light Moths

Moths
Eaten
1st Attempt
2nd Attempt
3rd Attempt
Average XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Final Analysis

Explain how the color of the moths increases or decreases their chances of survival.

Explain the concept of natural selection using your moths as an example.

Predict what would happen if there were no predators in the forest. Would the moth colors have changed?
Why or why not?

Efforts to reduce pollution began occurring later in the century. If pollution near factories was reduced, what
would happen to the color of the moths? Explain your answer.

Kettlewell's experiment is included in most biology texts as an example of evolution occurring. How do we
know that the moths evolved?