Dark moths increased in s. Britain after pollution control began (Talk.Origins)

Claim CB601.2.3:

South of latitude 52 degrees north, melanism in the peppered moth showed no correlation with sulphur dioxide concentration, and the proportion of dark moths increased there after pollution control was introduced. These observations are inconsistent with Kettlewell's explanation that the spread of the dark moths was caused by natural selection resulting from selective predation.

Source:
 * Wells, Jonathan, 1999. Second thoughts on peppered moths. This classical story of evolution by natural selection needs revising.
 * Wells, Jonathan, 2000. Icons of Evolution, Washington DC: Regnery Publishing Inc., pp. 137-157.

CreationWiki response:

It needs to be noted that the traditional peppered moth story is no way a threat to creation science. Not only do the peppered moths remain peppered moths but there is not even a change in the peppered moth gene pool&mdash;only a temporary shift in populations. The fact that Evolutionists even consider this evidence for evolution is a sign of desperation.

This seems to be simply the result of a difference in interpreting the results. Talk Origins sees significant correlations where Wells does not. It is not uncommon for two researchers to see different things in the same data.

It also needs to be noted that Wells was writing to laymen not scientists, so he was simplifying his description.

Wells also refers to this statement. It makes his main point quite well: that there are more factors involved with peppered moth color than the traditional peppered moth story implies.