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The Forces That Determine the Size of Groups ("Swarms") of Social

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Essay

The forces that determine the size of groups ("swarms") of social insects and the rates at
which they grow are not well understood. Biologists have observed large variability in the size of swarms across species. In a study of the social wasp, Polybia occidentalis,
investigators dismantled a nest of these insects and marked a few insects for future
identification in new swarms. Twenty-five days after dismantling the original swarm they
had located new swarms of wasps from the original colonies. The data below present the
numbers of adults and workers in the new swarms in two different years. "Drones" are
fertile males that mate with the queen. "Workers" are infertile females that labor in the nest
and defend the colony. $\begin{array}{|c|r|r|r|r|r|}\hline \begin{array}{c}\text { First } \\\text { Year } \\\text { Swarm } \\\#\end{array} & \begin{array}{c}\text { Number } \\\text { of } \\\text { Drones }\end{array} & \begin{array}{c}\text { Number } \\\text { of } \\\text { Workers }\end{array} & \begin{array}{c}\text { Second } \\\text { Year } \\\text { Swarm } \\\#\end{array} & \begin{array}{c}\text { Number } \\\text { of } \\\text { Drones }\end{array} & \begin{array}{c}\text { Number } \\\text { of } \\\text { Workers }\end{array} \\\hline 1 & 598 & 597 & 1 & 355 & 339 \\\hline 2 & 24 & 21 & 2 & 691 & 673 \\\hline 3 & 567 & 557 & 3 & 278 & 252 \\\hline 4 & 371 & 325 & 4 & 719 & 669 \\\hline 5 & 279 & 260 & 5 & 152 & 129 \\\hline 6 & 44 & 35 & 6 & 156 & 140 \\\hline 7 & 42 & 41 & 7 & 41 & 35 \\\hline 8 & 126 & 107 & & & \\\hline 9 & 108 & 101 & & & \\\hline 10 & 79 & 64 & & & \\\hline\end{array}$
-Construct comparative box plots of the numbers of drones in the swarms in the
first and second years. $The forces that determine the size of groups ( swarms ) of social insects and the rates at which they grow are not well understood. Biologists have observed large variability in the size of swarms across species. In a study of the social wasp, Polybia occidentalis, investigators dismantled a nest of these insects and marked a few insects for future identification in new swarms. Twenty-five days after dismantling the original swarm they had located new swarms of wasps from the original colonies. The data below present the numbers of adults and workers in the new swarms in two different years. Drones are fertile males that mate with the queen. Workers are infertile females that labor in the nest and defend the colony. \begin{array}{|c|r|r|r|r|r|} \hline \begin{array}{c} \text { First } \\ \text { Year } \\ \text { Swarm } \\ \# \end{array} & \begin{array}{c} \text { Number } \\ \text { of } \\ \text { Drones } \end{array} & \begin{array}{c} \text { Number } \\ \text { of } \\ \text { Workers } \end{array} & \begin{array}{c} \text { Second } \\ \text { Year } \\ \text { Swarm } \\ \# \end{array} & \begin{array}{c} \text { Number } \\ \text { of } \\ \text { Drones } \end{array} & \begin{array}{c} \text { Number } \\ \text { of } \\ \text { Workers } \end{array} \\ \hline 1 & 598 & 597 & 1 & 355 & 339 \\ \hline 2 & 24 & 21 & 2 & 691 & 673 \\ \hline 3 & 567 & 557 & 3 & 278 & 252 \\ \hline 4 & 371 & 325 & 4 & 719 & 669 \\ \hline 5 & 279 & 260 & 5 & 152 & 129 \\ \hline 6 & 44 & 35 & 6 & 156 & 140 \\ \hline 7 & 42 & 41 & 7 & 41 & 35 \\ \hline 8 & 126 & 107 & & & \\ \hline 9 & 108 & 101 & & & \\ \hline 10 & 79 & 64 & & & \\ \hline \end{array} -Construct comparative box plots of the numbers of drones in the swarms in the first and second years.$

Definitions:

Simplify

The process of reducing something to its basic or most straightforward form, often used in mathematics to reduce expressions or fractions.

Compound Interest

Interest calculated on the original principal and on previously calculated interest.

Simple Interest

Interest estimated only on the starting sum, not accounting for any compounding effects.

Evaluate

To determine or set the value or amount of; appraise.