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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 used to preserve ants in vodka?

2. Which of the following ant species is the most specialized granivore?

3. Which of the following is another name for fungus growing ants?

4. Which of the following best describes the body of weaver ants?

5. Which of the following countries is the Eciton Burchelli army ant NOT found?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What are trophobiants? Why are they compared to cattlers?

3. How does density specialization affect competition with ant species?

4. How do harvester ants affect vegetation in an ecosystem?

5. What is an ant garden?

6. What is the typical foraging pattern for harvester ants?

7. How do weaver ants build their nests?

8. What is dulosis? How is it a form of symbiosis?

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

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

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

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 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?

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This section contains 923 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample