View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What type of hierarchy does Wilson use to describe an ant colony?

2. What is polyethism?

3. What month of the year is considered the "nuptial flight" month for ant species?

4. Who removes a newly fertilized queen ant's wings?

5. What differentiates aldates from other ants in a colony?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is a "super colonial" ant colony?

2. What happens during the founding stage of an ant colony?

3. What factors affect the success of foraging within an ant colony?

4. What defense mechanism is unique to the Asian ant species known as Camponotus Saundersi?

5. What study was performed on fire ants leading to the understanding the foragers will respond to the nutritional needs of their colony?

6. How did the study of swallows affect the way scientists viewed spatial distribution?

7. How are ant colonies defined?

8. What happens during the reproductive stage of an ant colony?

9. How does the caste system within a given ant colony change according to the demographic?

10. What claim of colony odor did scientists Jaffe and Sanchez make in 1984?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Each ant colony goes through three distinct phases of the life cycle. Explain what happens during the founding stages of an ant colony. Explain what happens during the ergonomic stages. Finally, explain what happens during the reproductive phase. How do all three of these phases work together as a life cycle?

Essay Topic 2

In the study of kin recognition, scientists performed studies on various other animals and insects in the attempt of understanding how colonized animals recognize one another in a swarm. Choose two studies that did not involve ant colonies and explain their findings in regards to kin recognition. Explain how these two studies affected the way ant kinship was understood.

Essay Topic 3

Many ant colonies participate in slavery techniques that boost productivity with in the colony. Define the term "true slavery" as it is discussed in the novel. Explain what methods are traditionally used by ant colonies to secure slaves within their nest. Finally, explain how slave work functions within a colony? How it preserves maximum output for minimal effort.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 895 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample