The diagram shows two variations of the same species of peppered moth resting on a tree. Originally, most peppered moths were light-colored and blended in with the light-colored bark of the trees in their environment. Due to pollution during the Industrial Revolution, the trees became blackened by soot. As a result, the population of light-colored moths decreased, due to predators. At the same time, the population of dark-colored moths increased, because they were less visible to predators. Which process is responsible for this type of adaptation over time?

The diagram shows two variations of the same species of peppered moth resting on a tree. Originally, most peppered moths were light-colored and blended in with the light-colored bark of the trees in their environment. Due to pollution during the Industrial Revolution, the trees became blackened by soot. As a result, the population of light-colored moths decreased, due to predators. At the same time, the population of dark-colored moths increased, because they were less visible to predators. Which adaptation protected the dark-colored moths from predators?