Question 2 of 21

Which of the following has NOT been observed as a universal "rule" for swarming animals?

... Many swarms do not have a single leader. Members of a swarm stay out of each others' way while they move in unison, and they are attracted to their own species.

Question 3 of 21

When a flock of birds moves in formation, they are responding to directional changes from _________.

... When a flock of birds changes direction, it is a kind of wave motion. Any bird who turns into the flock can initiate the change in direction. The rest of the flock will not respond, however, if a bird turns away from the group, because they know that breaking away from the flock increases the chances of becoming isolated and endangered.

Question 4 of 21

To cross a depression in the Earth, a swarm of ants will build a bridge using __________.

... Ants will use their own bodies to create a bridge in order to move the swarm over a hollow in the ground.

Question 5 of 21

Kilobots are miniature robots researchers use to simulate the activities of more complex robots. They are able to engage in all of the following behaviors except ____________.

... Kilobots are able to explore their environments, move as a unit and function from the same internal clock, but they are not yet able to think for themselves.

Question 6 of 21

What percentage of fish participate in schooling behavior during their lives?

... There are more than 20,000 species of fish worldwide; almost 16,000 (80 percent) move in schools.

Question 7 of 21

A study from the University of Oxford found a connection between the swarming behavior of locusts and _______.

... Serotonin influences the insects' interaction with their environment; increased levels of the neurotransmitter coincide with locusts forming groups, the study found.

Question 8 of 21

Thomas Seeley, biology professor at Cornell University, runs faculty meetings that mimick the decision-making style of swarm ________.

... When bees need to select a new hive, they gather a wide variety of data and use an organized decision-making process. This approach can be modeled by people to facilitate discussion, open-mindedness and cooperation.

Question 9 of 21

Birds flying in flocks and moving in formation are examples of ________ behavior.

... Emergent behavior is not instigated by a single flier within a group; rather, it appears as a collective behavior.

Question 10 of 21

Researchers tracked the movement of swarms of _________ crickets through Colorado and Utah to study their survival rates.

... Transmitters were glued to the backs of Mormon crickets so researchers could study millions of them. The scientists hope to learn how to manipulate the insects' swarm patterns.

Question 11 of 21

Which swarm insect is being negatively affected by climate change?

... Early warm temperatures bring honeybees out of hibernation too soon, before there is enough food. Many starve.

Question 12 of 21

Researchers are working on technology that will use a swarm-like response to treat _________.

... MIT researchers are studying the use of nanoparticles (tiny components that target cancer cells) to improve the release and distribution of medicine.

Question 13 of 21

Swarms of stinkbugs are increasing throughout the U.S. They are a challenge because they _______.

... As of 2011, stinkbugs had spread to 33 states in the U.S. They are an agricultural menace because they feed on numerous crops, including corn, tomatoes, peppers and a wide variety of fruit, yet they are unharmed by most pesticides.

Question 14 of 21

An ant in a colony will go out to forage for food after it has communicated with patrolling ants by __________.

... An ant will go out to collect food after it has made contact with the antennae of guard ants. Once a few ants start this act, many more join in.

Question 15 of 21

Among animals, swarming behavior benefits _________.

... Swarming behavior can have different outcomes. For instance, in swarms of bees or ants, the entire group benefits from cooperative behavior. However, the swarming motion for Mormon crickets helps individual crickets when food is scarce. The crickets can turn cannibalistic, so organized group motion helps keep them away from each other.

Question 16 of 21

Soldier crabs often move in swarms after low tide. Their leaders _________.

... The crabs on the edge of the pack are leaders and keep the swarm moving sideways; crabs at this border often swap out with other crabs inside the group's protection.

Question 17 of 21

During the early 20th century, biologists and naturalists thought birds were able to fly in flocks because of _______.

... Though they used different words to describe the phenomenon, many scientists studying birds believed there was an innate and almost mystical connection among the individual creatures of the flock. They considered natural telepathy, thought transference and group soul as possible explanations.

Question 18 of 21

Numerous studies of starling flocks indicate the birds fly __________.

... Starlings can fly in a tight formation as long as they have sufficient space in front of and behind them.

Question 19 of 21

Computer graphics researcher Craig Reynolds experimented with ways to portray swarming animals on film; the first movie to use this technology was _________.

... "Batman Returns" featured swarms of bats and penguins.

Question 20 of 21

Myxococcus xanthus, a species of bacteria, swarms in response to ________ in its environment.

... The bacteria move together in a rippling effect to attack prey found in soil. Researchers hope to be able to adapt this behavior for medical purposes, such as maintaining cleanliness in hospitals.

Question 21 of 21

In 1999, protestors at the WTO (Word Trade Organization) meeting in Seattle engaged in some behavior that has been described as swarm-like; it was greatly facilitated by _______.

... Mobile technology was used to share information about police activity, so crowds could scatter and come together again, much like a school of fish being pursued by a predator.

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