I'm not at all familiar with the observational data: It there good
evidence that the dark-colored moths experienced some sort of "drive"
in their relative abundance that was coincident with blackening
pollution? I assume this is the case, given that the alternatives
discussed are all trying to account for the change in the population.
If one were looking for a textbook replacement for selection in
the peppered moth, what might be a good candidate? Tail size and
coloration in guppies? Diversification/specialization of stickleback
species in mixed environments? Changes in the reproductive cycles
of farm weeds? Personally, I think guppies would be the most
photogenic... (I'd choose a bacterial example first, but I'm biased)
Regards,
Tim Ikeda
tikeda@sprintmail.hormel.com (despam address before use)