Which is a classic example cited for natural selection in action?

• A. Darwin's Finches
• B. Peppered Moths
• C. Industrial Melanism
• D. Giraffes

Answer: (B)

Natural selection in action is seen when an environmental change makes certain traits more advantageous, so individuals with those traits leave more offspring and the population’s traits shift over generations. Peppered moths are a classic example of this. Before industrial pollution, light-colored moths on lichen-covered trees were better camouflaged from birds, so they were more likely to survive and reproduce. After soot darkened tree bark, dark-colored moths became harder for predators to spot and thus had higher survival, leading to more dark-colored individuals in polluted areas. As pollution later decreased and trees re-lightened, the lighter form again became more common. This clear, observable change in trait frequencies in response to the environment is why peppered moths are highlighted as a quintessential case of natural selection in action.