MHT CET 202622 AprilEvening Shift
- Exam
- MHT CET
- Year
- 2026
- Date
- 22 April
- Shift
- Evening Shift
- Subject
- Biology
- Chapter
- Evolution
MHT CET 2026 · 22 April · Evening Shift · Biology · Evolution
Industrial melanism observed in different species of moths is an...
Industrial melanism observed in different species of moths is an example of ____.
Options
- Astabilizing selection
- Bdirectional selection
- Cecological isolation
- Dethological isolation
Correct answer
B. directional selection
Step-by-step solution
Industrial melanism is a classic example of directional selection.
Before industrialization, light-coloured moths were more prevalent because they were well-camouflaged against the lichen-covered tree trunks, protecting them from predators. However, during industrialization, pollution killed the lichens and darkened the tree trunks with soot. This environmental change favoured the dark-coloured (melanic) moths, which were now better camouflaged. As a result, the population shifted in one specific direction towards the darker phenotype.
This shift in the frequency of a trait in a consistent direction in response to environmental changes is the defining characteristic of directional selection.
Answer: directional selection
Before industrialization, light-coloured moths were more prevalent because they were well-camouflaged against the lichen-covered tree trunks, protecting them from predators. However, during industrialization, pollution killed the lichens and darkened the tree trunks with soot. This environmental change favoured the dark-coloured (melanic) moths, which were now better camouflaged. As a result, the population shifted in one specific direction towards the darker phenotype.
This shift in the frequency of a trait in a consistent direction in response to environmental changes is the defining characteristic of directional selection.
Answer: directional selection