Ants: More Than What They Seem
Most people don’t give ants much thought. They live in forests, fields, deserts, and cracks in the sidewalk. They seem to always be scurrying about in no particular direction. But if you watch closely, you will see a highly intelligent super organism at work. A super organism are a group of organisms that behaves like a single organism. The group works together to ensure survival, growth, and reproduction for the colony. Humans do this too, but we make plans and communicate with each other. In an ant colony, no one ant is in charge, so there isn’t an ant that tells the others what to do. They just do it.
While a single ant has a tiny brain, ant colonies form super organisms that are incredibly smart.
Max made these notes for his speech.
-Different members of the colony, different roles. Roles may change based on needs.
-Can efficiently explore large areas without a plan.
-Seem to change patterns based on interactions with other ants—helps them to figure out where to go.
-After ant finds food, returns to nest, marking the path to the food with a chemical scent. (Other ants follow.)
-Way ants search—has been applied to computer models (Internet searches).
-To become more efficient, companies have studied how ants search. Example: finding best routes for recycling trucks throughout a city.
QUESTION
Drawing on details from Max’s notes, finish the informative speech. Begin with the underlined sentence. In your writing, be sure to develop the topic with facts, examples, and concrete details. Use different elements to help illustrate ideas related to the topic. Use a variety of transitions and write in a formal style using precise words. Include a conclusion that supports or extends the information you provided.