Page 223 - The Error of the Evolution of Species

Harun Yahya
(Adnan Oktar)

predation are responsible for maintaining the high melan-
ic frequencies. 280

The zoologist R. C. Steward, who had studied melanism
in moths, determined that although melanic moths were

well camouflaged in South Wales, they constituted only 20%
of the population. 281 Steward collected data from 165 sepa-
rate areas of Britain, concluding that north of 52 degrees lat-
itude, sulfur dioxide (a chemical cause of air pollution), was
directly linked to melanism; but that south of 52 degrees lat-
itude, other factors apart from air pollution might be having
an effect. He described Kettlewell's error by saying, "it may
not be possible to generalize from the results for one area,
to explain geographic variation over the rest of Britain." 282

As more research was carried out, data opposing
Kettlewell's theory accumulated. The idea that birds led to
natural selection by hunting moths proved to be a false as-

Intense research in Britain
and America has shown
that the distribution of
melanic (dark) moths in
polluted and unpolluted
regions is quite different
from what was expected—
and predicted. It thus be-
came clear that
Kettlewell's research did
not reflect the true facts.

221