In the case of peppered moth (Biston betularia) the black-coloured from became dominant over the light-coloured form in England during industrial revolution. This is an example of

Options

A. Appearance of the darker coloured individuals due to very poor sunlight.
B. Protective mimicry
C. Inheritance of darker colour character acquired due to the darker environment
D. Natural selection whereby the darker forms were selected

Answer

**Step-by-Step Text Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Context**: The question refers to the case of the peppered moth (Biston betularia) in England during the Industrial Revolution. It highlights a change in the population dynamics of two color forms of the moth: the black-colored form and the light-colored form.

2. **Initial Conditions**: Before industrialization (around the 1850s), the environment was less polluted, and the light-colored moths blended well with the lichen-covered tree bark. This camouflage helped them avoid predators, leading to a higher survival rate for the light-colored moths.

3. **Impact of Industrialization**: With the onset of industrialization in the 1920s, pollution increased, leading to the death of lichens and the darkening of tree bark due to soot and dust. This change in the environment affected the visibility of the moths.

4. **Natural Selection in Action**: As the tree bark became darker, the light-colored moths became more visible to predators, resulting in a decrease in their population. Conversely, the black-colored moths, which were now better camouflaged against the dark bark, had a higher survival rate and began to dominate the population.

5. **Conclusion**: This phenomenon is an example of **natural selection**, where the environmental changes favored the survival of the black-colored moths over the light-colored ones. This aligns with Charles Darwin's theory of "survival of the fittest," where individuals better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.

6. **Final Answer**: The correct answer to the question is that this is an example of **natural selection**.

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