An industrial melanism supports :

Options

A. Natural selection
B. Migration
C. Geneflow
D. Genetic drift

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Industrial Melanism**: Industrial melanism refers to the phenomenon where darker-colored individuals of a species become more common in polluted environments. This is often observed in moths, particularly the peppered moth (Biston betularia).

2. **Historical Context**: Before industrialization (around the 1860s), tree trunks in England were covered with light-colored lichens. The lighter-colored moths blended in with this background, making them less visible to predators.

3. **Impact of Industrialization**: With the onset of industrialization, pollution increased, leading to the death of lichens and darkening of tree trunks due to soot. This change in the environment affected the survival of moths.

4. **Natural Selection**: As the tree trunks became darker, the lighter-colored moths became more visible to predators, leading to a decrease in their population. Conversely, the darker moths were better camouflaged against the darkened trunks, allowing them to survive and reproduce more effectively.

5. **Conclusion**: The changes in the population of moths before and after industrialization illustrate the process of natural selection. The environment favored the darker moths, leading to an increase in their population over time.

6. **Final Answer**: Therefore, industrial melanism supports the concept of **natural selection**.

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