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IB Biology HL C4.1.9 Competition Vs Cooperation Questions

In IB Biology HL C4.1.9, compare competition within a species for resources such as food, mates and space with cooperation such as shared tasks, colony protection and specialized foraging.

Syllabus
First assessment 2025
Course
Biology HL
Level
HL

Exam points

  • State an advantage of colony living, such as sharing tasks, developing specialized roles or increasing protection.
  • Explain how foraging specialization or division of labour can improve food collection efficiency in a colony.

IB Biology HL C4.1.9 Competition Vs Cooperation Questions question 1

[Maximum number: 1]

The pavement ant (Tetramorium caespitum) eats organic matter found within its territory. Individual ants leave their nest to forage for food. When they find a suitable source of food they return and communicate to other ants in the colony where the food can be found. The diagram shows the path of one ant when foraging for food and returning to the nest after finding food.

Pavement-ant foraging diagram and ant photograph. A solid winding outward path connects Nest to Food; a dashed homeward path returns toward the nest. A square marks the start, open circles mark 10-second intervals and a dot marks the end. Scale bar: 20 cm.

State one advantage to an insect of living in a colony.

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