From Peter Green, Southampton, UK
Can species evolve fast enough to survive climate change? The answer is no! What has been observed by these researchers is an example of ecological genetics in action. The genetic polymorphism within the population means some individuals will already possess the necessary genes to enable them to survive climate change. The number of these individuals may be low, but they will soon become the dominant group. Natural selection takes place so individuals who don’t possess the necessary genes will die out. The best example of this is the peppered moth, which comes in pale and dark shades. Before the industrial revolution, tree trunks were pale, and the dark moths formed a small percentage of the population due to predation. The darkening of the trunks with industrialisation led to the darker moths becoming more “fit” and thus more dominant. The reverse occurred as pollution lessened and the trunks lightened (21 March, p 6)
