The peppered moth and industrial melanism: evolution of a natural selection case study

From the outset multiple causes have been suggested for changes in melanic gene frequency in the peppered moth Biston betularia and other industrial melanic moths. These have included higher intrinsic fitness of melanic forms and selective predation for camouflage. The possible existence and origin...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Heredity 2013-03, Vol.110 (3), p.207-212
Main Authors: Cook, L M, Saccheri, I J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alleles
Animal Distribution
Animal migration
Animals
Biological Evolution
Biston betularia
Butterflies & moths
Evolution
Gene Frequency
Genes
Genetic Loci
Genetics
Heliconius
Industry
Insect migration
Melanins - genetics
Moths - genetics
Mutation
Phenotype
Phylogeography
Pigmentation - genetics
Predation
Review
Selection, Genetic - genetics
United Kingdom
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:From the outset multiple causes have been suggested for changes in melanic gene frequency in the peppered moth Biston betularia and other industrial melanic moths. These have included higher intrinsic fitness of melanic forms and selective predation for camouflage. The possible existence and origin of heterozygote advantage has been debated. From the 1950s, as a result of experimental evidence, selective predation became the favoured explanation and is undoubtedly the major factor driving the frequency change. However, modelling and monitoring of declining melanic frequencies since the 1970s indicate either that migration rates are much higher than existing direct estimates suggested or else, or in addition, non-visual selection has a role. Recent molecular work on genetics has revealed that the melanic (carbonaria) allele had a single origin in Britain, and that the locus is orthologous to a major wing patterning locus in Heliconius butterflies. New methods of analysis should supply further information on the melanic system and on migration that will complete our understanding of this important example of rapid evolution.
ISSN:0018-067X
1365-2540
DOI:10.1038/hdy.2012.92