Social Evolution Research Group
Our research focusses on the behavioural and evolutionary ecology of social systems, using wasps and bees as models. We are particularly interested in the fundamental question of how and why helping evolves and is maintained.
Our work involves a combination of large-scale manipulative field experiments in natural and laboratory environments; mathematical modelling; and molecular work such as microsatellite-based studies to estimate genetic relatedness and assign offspring to parents.
Our study organisms include eusocial hover wasps (Liostenogaster, Malaysia); eusocial paper-wasps (Polistes, Spain), socially polymorphic sweat bees (Halictus, Lasioglossum, UK) and non-social digger wasps (Ammophila, UK).
We are funded by:
