Cùng tham IELTS Academic Reading Sample 118 - Collecting Ant Specimens để các bạn ôn tập lại các kiến thức đã học, đánh giá năng lực làm bài của mình cũng như làm quen với cấu trúc đề thi để chuẩn bị kì thi được tốt hơn với số điểm cao như mong muốn. Chúc các bạn thi tốt! | You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27-40 which are based on Reading Passage 118 below. Collecting Ant Specimens Collecting ants can be as simple as picking up stray ones and placing them in a glass jar or as complicated as completing an exhaustive survey of all species present in an area and estimating their relative abundances. The exact method used will depend on the final purpose of the collections. For taxonomy. or classification long series from a single nest which contain all castes workers including majors and minors and if present queens and males are desirable to allow the determination of variation within species. For ecological studies the most important factor is collecting identifiable samples of as many of the different species present as possible. Unfortunately these methods are not always compatible. The taxonomist sometimes overlooks whole species in favour of those groups currently under study while the ecologist often collects only a limited number of specimens of each species thus reducing their value for taxonomic investigations. To collect as wide a range of species as possible several methods must be used. These include hand collecting using baits to attract the ants ground litter sampling and the use of pitfall traps. Hand collecting consists of searching for ants everywhere they are likely to occur. This includes on the ground under rocks logs or other objects on the ground in rotten wood on the ground or on trees in vegetation on tree trunks and under bark. When possible collections should be made from nests or foraging columns and at least 20 to 25 individuals collected. This will ensure that all individuals are of the same species and so increase their value for detailed studies. Since some species are largely nocturnal. collecting should not be confined to daytime. Specimens are collected using an aspirator often called a poorer forceps a fine moistened paint brush or fingers. if the ants are known not to sting. Individual
