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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. Which of the following is NOT a caste within ant colonies?

2. How do ants communicate?

3. What are thermophilic ants drawn to?

4. Which of the following are used by worker ants to stimulate new larvae growth?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How has the rearing of isolated ant larvae affected scientists' understanding of reductionism?

3. What are barrack nests?

4. What is the most common form of communication between ants, and how is it expressed?

5. How is ant communication categorized?

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

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

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

9. What are some of the ways ant colonies control the numbers of queens present in their colony?

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

Pheromones are considered the most important asset to ant communication. Describe two different ways in which ants communicate using their pheromones. Explain how pheromones are emitted from the ant's body in both liquid and gas forms.

Essay Topic 3

The role of the queen within an ant society is one that Wilson demands much focus on throughout the text. Explain the role of the queen in starting an ant colony. What role does the queen play in decision-making for the colony as a whole? Finally, explain how the role of the queen changes as the society becomes more successful, and which members of the colony take over the decision-making process.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 868 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample