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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 scientists told the amusing anecdote about ants that stripped a garden overnight?

2. How is dulosis defined?

3. Which of the following is NOT a behavioral category for myrmecophiles?

4. Which of the following scientists used to preserve ants in vodka?

5. What does the term "army ant" relate to?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why are Proceratium ants considered the most specialized of all egg predators?

2. What interesting collecting method did Harlow Shapely use when preserving ants?

3. What type of ant predator did Levieux discover by digging under the soil on the Ivory Coast in 1983?

4. What modifications must a parasite's body undergo in order to live successfully off a host's body?

5. What is the first phase of nest building in a weaver ant colony? Why does this phase require teamwork?

6. What is an ant garden?

7. How do Solenopsis flies affect the productivity of Apocephalus ants in Texas?

8. What amusing anecdote does V. Wolfgang von Hagen give about leafcutter ants?

9. In his study of army ants published in 1948, what does Schnerila claim happens to the queen as her brood reaches maturity?

10. How do Teleutomyrmex schneideri ants survive?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Harvester ants have been widely studied, even back in Biblical times. Describe the characteristics of a harvester ant. Summarize at least one study about harvester ants presented in the text. Finally, explain the effects harvester and have on vegetation throughout the world.

Essay Topic 2

Many field studies have been done in regards to the symbiotic relationships ants have with their own, and alien species in the wild. Explain how a symbiotic relationship is defined. Give one example of a symbiotic relationship between differing ant species. Finally, give at least one example of a symbiotic relationship between and ant and alien species in the wild.

Essay Topic 3

Kin selection is an important part of ant colony success. Describe the two main arguments to kin selection as given by Darwin and Hamilton. How did their opinions of kin selection differ? Finally, explain the two main hypotheses surrounding kin selection - Mutualism, and Parental Manipulation. How have these hypothesis affected understanding of kin selection as a whole?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 937 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample