Industrial melanism

Definition

The evolutionary effect in which darker-colored individuals become more common than lighter-colored individuals in a population due to industrial pollution, which causes soot to darken the environment.

Etymology

Coined in the mid-20th century, from 'industrial', referring to industry and pollution, and 'melanism', from the Greek 'melas', meaning 'black' or 'dark'.

Example

The peppered moth is a classic example of industrial melanism, where darker-colored forms became more prevalent due to the soot-covered trees in industrial areas.

Synonyms

• Dark morphism

Related Terms

• Melanism
• Natural selection
• Adaptation
• Peppered moth

Usage Notes

Industrial melanism is typically discussed in the context of rapid environmental change due to human activity and serves as a profound example of natural selection at work.