Dr Richard Gill

My research interests surround the behaviour, ecology and evolution of animal societies. I am fascinated by the variety of social strategies in nature, particularly those species that cooperatively breed, and the factors that determine such variation. I am subsequently also interested in how specific changes in the environment induce changes in behaviour, performance and the productivity of cooperative breeding groups.

Current project:

Investigating the impact of industrial chemicals on pollinating insects. More specifically, I am looking at the potential detrimental impact of pesticides and miticides on the performance of bumblebee and honey bee colonies by seeing whether social communication, learning, foraging behaviour and productivity are being affected.

Further information will soon be available.

Other projects:

i) Polymorphic social organisation in a multiple queen ant

Further information will soon be available.

ii) Conflict and its resolution over reproduction among queens in eusocial insects with multiple queens

Further information will soon be available.

iii) Intraspecific tests of selfishness and enforced altruism in social insects

Further information will soon be available.