How did Bernard Kettlewell determine whether certain moths survived longer than others during his studies on natural selection in peppered moths?

• A. By observing moths in laboratory cages and recording their lifespan
• B. By analyzing the genetic sequences of moths from different regions
• C. By releasing marked light and dark moths into different environments and recapturing them to compare survival rates
• D. By measuring the size of moth populations before and after a pollution event

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the context of Bernard Kettlewell's study. He was investigating natural selection in peppered moths, focusing on how environmental changes, such as pollution, influenced their survival.
2. Step 2: Recognize the experimental design. Kettlewell released marked light-colored and dark-colored moths into different environments, such as polluted areas with darkened tree bark and unpolluted areas with lighter tree bark.
3. Step 3: Learn the method of data collection. After releasing the moths, Kettlewell recaptured them to observe which moths survived longer in each environment. This allowed him to compare survival rates between the light and dark moths.
4. Step 4: Understand the role of camouflage and predation. In polluted environments, dark moths were better camouflaged against predators, while in unpolluted environments, light moths had better camouflage. This demonstrated how environmental factors influenced survival.
5. Step 5: Connect the findings to natural selection. Kettlewell's study provided evidence that traits improving survival in specific environments (like coloration matching the background) were favored, supporting the concept of natural selection.