Pollution & Evolution

How human pollution impacts the

survival of species on earth.
Benefits of Active Transportation

Exercise, clean air, no traffic, and fun!

 Charles
Darwin

Natural Selection

Evolution &

Extinction
Natural Selection, Evolution, Extinction
•Species best adapted to
environment survives.

•When environment
changes species evolve
or go extinct.
Today, you are a bird.

And there is nothing

birds like better than
fat, juicy moths.
You will catch them
with your “Beak”
There are two colors
of moths.
2 Peppered Moths

Both taste good.

Both have equal

nutritional value.

Your job? Eat as

many moths as you
can in 60 seconds.
THE RULES
 One ‘Beak’ (tweezers)
 60 seconds.
 Catch as many moths
as you can and put
them in the cup.
 At the end, tally up all
your moths by color,
and fill out the tally
sheet provided.
 Moth Tally Sheet
ON BLACK ON PEPPER
# Black Moths caught # Black Moths caught
# Pepper caught # Pepper caught
Total caught = Total caught =
% Black (Black/Total) % Black (Black/Total)
%Peppered %Peppered
(Peppered/Total) (Peppered/Total)
 What did you notice?
Which color moth did you get more of
on the peppered background?
What about on the black background?
Why do you think that is?
Which moth color would survive better?
The Real Peppered Moth
Hard to see?

The peppered moth

uses CAMOUFLAGE,
the same color and
pattern as the bark of
the trees.
“Black” Peppered Moth
 Which is easier to see?

 The fact that it probably

gets eaten more is
NATURAL SELECTION.

 Black moths were rare!

Only 1 black moth had
ever been documented.
 Manchester, England- Air Pollution

 In the early 1800’s, the

INDUSTRIAL
REVOLUTION began.
 Factories were powered
by burning coal (a oil
based fossil fuel).
 Burning of coal created
heavy soot pollution.
It “snowed” black
ashes.
Soot Covered EVERYTHING.
Black moths became 98% of the population.
Pollution changes our environment.

 Smog (smoke fog) is a problem. Look at LA!

 Air pollution has dangers you can’t see: Carbon Dioxide

CO2 - Invisible Pollution
 Carbon Dioxide , CO2 is
a clear gas that occurs
when anything is burnt.

 Too much CO2 makes the

planet warmer, faster
than species can adapt.

 If the environment warms

a few degrees, many
species will go extinct.
Severe CO2 causing “shortness of breath”
 Ask the cyclists of the
first “Tour of Beijing.”

 The CO2 was at least

5x the legal limit in
Europe.

 Riders complained that

there was not enough
oxygen to breath.
 Carbon Dioxide Demonstration
Can we see an
invisible gas?

CO2 that is HEAVIER

than most gases in
the atmosphere.

CO2 will “sink”

creating a bottom
layer of gas.
What does CO2 do to other species?
CO2 adds to Global
Climate Change
Changing the
environment means
many species will go
extinct.
Unlike natural
selection, we are
causing the extinction.
 Can humans go extinct???

What do humans
need to survive?

No one knows

how the climate
will react to the
greenhouse gases.
The best way to reduce air pollution & CO2?
Transportation

 Walk, bike, carpool, and

take public transport.
Avoid unnecessary trips!

 61% of Carbon Dioxide

emissions in Marin
County are from
vehicles.

 Electric engines also help

reduce CO2.
 Pollution can
Conclusion greatly impact life

Peppered Moths

Natural Selection
Extinction
Evolution

Charles
Darwin