Question

In California, a lack of genetic variation in the Argentine ant has allowed the species to spread widely; due to their being so genetically similar to one another, the ants consider all their fellows to be a close relative and thus do not engage in the kind of fierce intercolony struggles that limits the spread of this species in its native Argentina.

(A) due to their being so genetically similar to one another, the ants consider all their fellows to be a close relative and thus do not engage in the kind of fierce intercolony struggles that limits

(B) due to its being so genetically similar the ant considers all its fellows to be a close relative and thus does not engage in the kind of fierce intercolony struggles that limit

(C) because it is so genetically similar, the ant considers all its fellows to be close relatives and thus does not engage in the kind of fierce intercolony struggles that limits

(D) because they are so genetically similar to one another, the ants consider all their fellows to be close relatives and thus do not engage in the kind of fierce intercolony struggles that limit

(E) because of being so genetically similar to one another, the ants consider all their fellows to be a close relative and thus do not engage in the kind of fierce intercolony struggles that limits

Answer 1

The correct choice (D) highlights the lack of genetic variation in the Argentine ant's populations in California, leading to non-aggressive behavior and widespread distribution due to considering all individuals as close relatives.

Step-by-step explanation:

When analyzing the provided text and options regarding the genetic behavior of the Argentine ant in California, we can determine the most grammatically correct and factually accurate sentence about the ant's behavior. The correct choice is (D) because they are so genetically similar to one another, the ants consider all their fellows to be close relatives and thus do not engage in the kind of fierce intercolony struggles that limit. This choice most accurately represents the situation of the Argentine ant's lack of genetic variation, which is significant because it leads to unusual social behaviors compared to populations in its native Argentina.

This behavior is a result of kin selection, a form of natural selection, where organisms act in the interest of their relatives' survival. Since the ants in California are so closely related genetically, their social structure lacks the intercolony aggression common in Argentina, allowing for the widespread distribution of this invasive species. The idea that small initial population sizes and low genetic diversity do not always limit the adaptation and spread of invasive species, as seen with the Argentine ant, also adds to the understanding of invasion biology.