I. Pen

Maternal manipulation of offspring size can trigger the evolution of eusociality in promiscuous species

This study presents a theoretical model showing that eusociality can evolve in promiscuous species if mothers manipulate offspring size, leading to social polymorphism and dispersal strategies.

Coevolution of larval signalling and worker response can trigger developmental caste determination in social insects

The paper models how larval signaling and worker response coevolve to trigger caste determination and worker polymorphism in social insects through self-reinforcement mechanisms.

Divergent evolution of genetic sex determination mechanisms along environmental gradients

The paper shows that environmental effects on gene expression can drive evolutionary divergence of sex determination mechanisms along environmental gradients.

The evolution of ageing in cooperative breeders

This study shows that cooperative breeding leads to longer lifespans due to delayed reproduction and kin structure, linking ageing evolution with kin selection theory.

Eusociality and the evolution of aging in superorganisms

This paper provides quantitative models showing reproductive monopolization, not just caste-specific mortality risks, explains the evolutionary divergence in lifespan between queens and workers in eusocial insects.