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

Short Answer Questions

1. How much of the Amazon rainforest is composed of ants and other insects?

2. Which of the following is NOT a phase of colony defense?

3. How do most Idaho harvester ants die?

4. What is the scientific name for the first generation of workers?

5. What is the colloquial name for the ant species "Paratrechina longicornis"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the most common ways through with an ant colony becomes polygynus?

2. How does Wilson argue the Paleozoic Era changed insects?

3. What are barrack nests?

4. Why does Wilson think vertebrate animals are heavily favored in science books?

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 is ant communication categorized?

7. How do Idaho harvester ants exhibit altruistic behavior?

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

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

10. Why are extra queens often considered an unnecessary burden within a colony?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The final chapter of the text is extremely informative in the process of collecting, preserving, and studying ant species. Describe the proper process for collecting ant species from the wild and transporting them back to the study lab. Explain the proper process for preserving ants for museum work. Finally, explain the proper process for transporting entire colonies from one nest to another.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Ants are considered a highly altruistic species of animals. Define altruism. Give two examples of ways in which ants are considered altruistic creatures. Finally, explain how the altruism found within ant societies benefits the colony as a whole. Do you think ants would survive were it not for their altruistic nature?

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