(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009-09-11)
Goodisman, Michael
The evolution of sociality represented one of the major transition points in evolutionary history. We are interested in understanding how
evolutionary processes affect social systems and how sociality, in turn, affects the course of evolution. The subjects of our research are
the social insects, which include ants, termites, social bees, and social wasps. Our research focuses on understanding the social structure
and mating biology of social insects. In addition, we are interested in the process of development and morphological evolution in the
context of sociality. In order to address these issues, we make use of a variety of techniques, including computer simulations, analytical
theory, field studies, and laboratory experiments, as well as molecular genetic and genomic analyses.
(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2007-10-02)
Goodisman, Michael
Social insects, including ants, bees, wasps, and termites, are "among the greatest achievements of evolution". They dominate terrestrial environments and make up a substantial part of the animal biomass. The tremendous success of social insects stems from their ability to effectively manage ecological problems through their complex social systems. In fact, the formation of the remarkable societies displayed by social insects represents one of the major transition points in evolutionary history. This talk provides an overview of the biology of social insects and the development and importance of social insect societies. Includes as discussion of the natural history of important social insects found locally, including fire ants and yellowjackets.