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Research Projects at the Centre for Social Evolution and Symbiosis
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Research Projects at the Centre for Social Evolution and Symbiosis
Fungus-growing ants: A program that has been ongoing for more that 10 years now. Field work takes place in Panama and is hosted by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Important aspects are the study of mating system evolution, social parasitism, caste determination and defences against parasites.
Fungus-growing termites: A program with fieldwork on various sites in Africa, studying the phylogenetic relationship between the termites and their fungi and the transmission modes through which young termite nests aquire their symbionts. Also the study of fungal parasites of this system has recently started.
Hypersocial ants: This program focuses on a new European pest ant, Lasius neglectus, but also has ongoing involvement in the study of native and European populations of Argentine ants and with studies on pharaoh’s ants. Current focus is on reconstructing the invasion of L. neglectus in Europe and on clarifying evolutionary changes that accompanied the invasion.
Maculinea butterflies: The larvae of the threatened butterfly Maculinea alcon are social parasites of Myrmica ants. This program examines the ecology and population genetics of M. alcon, and the chemical mimicry that is the basis of the relationship between butterfly and ant. Fieldwork is carried out primarily on the island of Læsø.
Black honeybee genetics and conservation: A program monitoring the genetic diversity of the remaining population of black honey bees on Læsø, and to compare the population structure of the Læsø bees with those of other black honey bee populations in Europe. Explicit studies of queen mating and drone dispersal are part of this program.