Industrial melanism is an example of

Industrial melanism is a classic example of natural selection in action. It refers to the phenomenon where the frequency of dark-coloured individuals in a population of species increases in response to environmental changes caused by industrialisation. In areas heavily polluted by industrial soot, such as during the industrial revolution, dark-coloured moths had a survival advantage over lighter-colored moths because they were better camouflaged against darkened trees.

As a result, dark-coloured moths were more likely to avoid predation by birds, while lighter-coloured moths became more conspicuous and vulnerable. Over time, the proportion of dark-colored moths in the population increased significantly, demonstrating how the environment's selective pressures led to changes in the moth population's traits. This example illustrates the concept of natural selection, where individuals with traits that enhance their survival and reproduction are favored, leading to evolutionary change in a population.