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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 concern for major workers?

2. Which of the following physical attributes signifies a queen within a swarm of ants?

3. How do ants communicate?

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

5. Which of the following is NOT a system of kin recognition listed in the novel?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is communication between ants important during transportation?

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

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

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

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

6. How do various ant species, as discussed in this novel, protect their nests from spiders?

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

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

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

10. How do ant colonies treat foreign ants that wander in the nest?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Leafcutter ants are among one of the most interesting and well studies species of ants in the world. Describe what characteristics make a leafcutter ant unique. Summarize at least one major study of leafcutter ants that was presented in the text. Finally, explain how an ant garden functions. How gardens affect the lives of leafcutter ants.

Essay Topic 2

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?

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 890 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample