Industrial melanism is a phenomenon where darker-colored individuals of a species become more common in polluted environments. This occurs due to natural selection, where darker individuals are better camouflaged against predators in soot-darkened habitats. A classic example of industrial melanism is seen in the peppered moth (Biston betularia). Before the Industrial Revolution, lighter-colored moths were prevalent, but as pollution increased, darker moths became more common. This shift illustrates how environmental changes can influence the survival and reproduction of species over time.