Reproductive conflict in animal societies: hierarchy length increases with colony size in queenless ponerine ants

@article{Monnin2003ReproductiveCI,
  title={Reproductive conflict in animal societies: hierarchy length increases with colony size in queenless ponerine ants},
  author={Thibaud Monnin and Francis L. W. Ratnieks and Carlos R F Brand{\~a}o},
  journal={Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology},
  year={2003},
  volume={54},
  pages={71-79}
}
Dominance interactions determine reproductive status in many animal societies, including many cooperatively breeding vertebrates and eusocial Hymenoptera without queen-worker dimorphism. Typically, the dominant individual monopolises reproduction, and subordinates behave like helpers. In Dinoponera queenless ants, workers are totipotent females and can potentially reproduce, yet only the top-ranking worker actually reproduces. Individual workers ranked immediately below the dominant breeder… 
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