The Centre for Social Evolution and Symbiosis studies the ecology, evolution and population genetics of complex insect societies and uses ants and termites as its major empirical model systems.
Key aspects of mutualistic and parasitic symbiosis between species have recently been included into the general framework of kinship theory, a conceptual approach which has been highly successful to explain the cooperative and exploitative interactions of populations of social organisms. The emerging general theory of Social Evolution and Symbiosis requires empirical model systems for testing its predictions and assumptions. Our model systems of fungus-growing ants and fungus-growing termites are highly suitable, both for studying the evolutionary stability of mutualistic interactions and for understanding co-evolution between (social) parasites and social hosts.
In addition, the Centre for Social Evolution and Symbiosis uses large blue Lycaenid butterflies (as an alternative model system of social parasitism), several invasive ant species (as models for the evolution of hypersocial pests), and honeybees (as models for the conservation of gene pools under domestication and active management). The latter programs all have additional support from independent Danish and EU grants.
