The Superorganism
The study of insect societies is today one of the fastest growing major branches of evolutionary biology. It has revealed a great deal about the general principles of the origin and evolution of advanced social behavior, and has shed light on the enormous ecological success of the social insects (with ants and termites making up over half of the insect biomass around the world).
The evolution from organism to superorganism has been the major transition between levels of biological organization, easiest to penetrate and understand.
Edward O. Wilson, Pellegrino Research Professor Emeritus and Honorary Curator in Entomology at Harvard, presents the annual John M. Prather Lecture in Biology.
| The Superorganism |
| Related Links |
| Understanding the Ants This is a collection of documentary films that reveal the nature and the secret world of ants - social insects of the family Formicidae. |
| A Taste for Insects How did the passion for collecting and collections of Darwin, Wallace and others of their period force them to understand and explain biodiversity? |
| Micro Monsters This is a six-part nature documentary series presented by David Attenborough, exploring the strange, weird and wonderful world of bugs. |
| Life in the Undergrowth This is a BBC documentary series presented by David Attenborough, exploring the diversity of terrestrial invertebrates, their evolution and their private lives. |
| Alien Empire: A Journey to the World of Insects This is a six-part documentary series hosted by John Shrapnel, taking us into the bizarre, fascinating world of insects with amazing graphics. |