Email David 
Harry C. and Olga K. Wiess Professor
of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Research Interests
I work on both theoretical and empirical aspects of the evolution of social interactions, including both sexual selection and kin selection. Recent theoretical studies have focused on generalizing inclusive fitness theory, the role of relatedness in viscous populations, and the importance of demographic advantages in the evolution of sociality in insects.
I have also worked to develop methods for estimating genetic relatedness using genetic markers, work which has led to an extensive collaboration with Joan Strassmann on the importance of genetic relatedness in the evolution of social insects. We use DNA microsatellite markers to study altruism and conflict in both social insects and cellular slime molds.
Selected Publications (click on title to view PDF)
- Santorelli, LA, Thompson, CRL, Villegas, E, Svetz, J, Dinh, C, Parikh, A, Sucgang, R, Kuspa, A, Strassmann, JE, Queller, DC and Shaulsky, G. 2008. Facultative cheater mutants reveal the genetic complexity of cooperation in social amoebae. Nature 451:1107-1110.
- McConnell,R., Middlemist, S., Scala, C., Strassmann, J.E. and Queller, D.C. 2007. An unusually low microsatellite mutation rate in Dictyostelium discoideum, an organism with unusually abundant microsatellites. Genetics. 177:1499-1507
- Gilbert, OM, Foster, K., Mehdiabadi, NJ, Strassmann, JE, and Queller, DC. 2007. High relatedness maintains multicellular cooperation in a social amoeba by controlling cheater mutants. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 104:8913-8917.
- Strassmann, JE, and Queller, DC. 2007. Insect societies as divided organisms: The complexities of purpose and cross-purpose. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 104:8619-8626.
- Kuzdzal-Fick, J.J., Foster, K. R.; Queller, D. C., and Strassmann, J. 2007. Exploiting new terrain: an advantage to sociality in the slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum. Behavioral Ecology. 18: 433-437.
- Mehdiabadi, NJ, Jack, CN, Farnham, TT, Platt, TG, Kalla, SE, Shaulsky, G, Queller, DC, and Strassmann, JE. 2006. Kin preference in a social microbe. Nature. 442: 881-882
- Queller, D.C. & Strassmann, J. E., 2002. The many selves of social insects. Science 296:311-313
- Queller, D. C., Zacchi, F., Cervo, R., Turillazzi, S., Henshaw, M., Santorelli, L., Strassmann, J. E. 2000. Unrelated helpers in a social insect. Nature 405:784-787.
- Queller, D. C. and Strassmann, J. E. 1998. Kin selection and social insects. BioScience, 48: 165-175.
- Hastings, M. D., Queller, D. C., Eischen, F. and Strassmann, J. E. 1998. Kin selection, relatedness and worker control of reproduction in a large-colony epiponine wasp, Brachygastra mellifica. Behavioral Ecology, 9:573-581.
- Peters, J. M., Queller D. C., Imperatriz-Fonseca, V. L., Roubik, D. W., Strassmann, J. E. 1999. Mate number, kin selection and social conflicts in stingless bees and honey bees. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London: Series B 266:379-384.
- Queller, D.C. 1997. Why do females care more than males? Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B 264: 1555-1557.
- Queller, D. C., J. E. Strassmann, C. R. Hughes, C. R. Solís, D. Moralez DeLoach, 1993. A selfish strategy of social insect workers that promotes social cohesion. Nature 365:639-641.
- Queller, D.C., Peters, J.M., Solís, C.R. & Strassmann, J.E. 1997. Control of reproduction in social insect colonies: individual and collective relatedness preferences in the paper wasp, Polistes annularis. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 40:3-16.
- Queller, D.C. 1994. Male-female conflict and parent-offspring conflict. American Naturalist 144:S84-S99. Aug
- Queller, D.C. 1994. Extended parental care and the origin of eusociality. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B 256:105-111.
- Queller, D.C. 1996. The measurement and meaning of inclusive fitness. Animal Behaviour 51: 229-232.
- Goodnight, K.F. and Queller, D. C. 1999. Computer software for performing likelihood tests of pedigree relationship using genetic markers Molecular Ecology 8:1231-1234.
- Queller, D.C. 1996. The origin and maintenance of eusociality: the advantage of extended parental care, pp. 218-234 in: S. Turillazzi and M. J. West-Eberhard (eds), Natural History and Evolution of Paper Wasps, Oxford University Press.