Part a - experimental design: testing a prediction it has been demonstrated that ectotherms (such as insects and reptiles) in warm climates tolerate higher temperatures than ectotherms in cooler climates. angilletta hypothesized that urban heat islands could lead to similar differences in heat tolerance between urban and rural populations of leaf-cutter ants. he predicted that ants in urban areas would tolerate heat better than ants in nearby rural areas.

First option:
Correct. We can make a plot with that data and, if the hypothesis is correct, we will see that the heat tolerance will increase as the distance decreases.

Second option:

Incorrect. That’s not useful until we know the relation between the feeding activity and the heat tolerance, which would require us to do another experiment.

Third option:

Incorrect. It has to be the same species because, if not, we wouldn’t know if the difference is due to the species instead of the city.

Fourth option:

Correct. We will compare the results in one group with the results in the other group and see if there are meaningful differences.

Fifth option:

Incorrect. 5 ants is too small to work as a meaningful sample.

Sixth option:

Incorrect. Being in the north or in the south has nothing to do with being inside the city or outside the city. There are large cities and rural areas in both.