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Science 7 February 1986:
Vol. 231. no. 4738, pp. 611 - 613
DOI: 10.1126/science.231.4738.611
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Articles

Postindustrial Melanism in the Peppered Moth

L. M. COOK 1, G. S. MANI 2, and M. E. VARLEY 3

1 Department of Zoology, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
2 Department of Physics, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
3 Department of Biology, Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, United Kingdom.

New data show the geographical pattern of frequency of the melanic morph carbonaria of the peppered moth, Biston betularia, in 1983-84. These frequencies are compared with data from 1952 to 1970. After 20 years of smoke control, the area of high melanic frequency has contracted to the northeast. The change indicates a disadvantage to carbonaria of about 12 percent compared with 20 years ago. Computer simulations, which do not include the assumption of heterozygote advantage, provide a good match to the surface for the period 1952 to 1970, and also the 1983-84 surface. Experiments on visual predation have been criticized as giving unrepresentative estimates of selection but they permit satisfactory simulations to be made.

Submitted on July 23, 1985
Accepted on November 26, 1985


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Selection and gene flow on a diminishing cline of melanic peppered moths.
I. J. Saccheri, F. Rousset, P. C. Watts, P. M. Brakefield, and L. M. Cook (2008)
PNAS 105, 16212-16217
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