Peeters, Christian
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Born 1956 in Brussels, Belgium. Studied in Johannesburg 1971-1985 and completed PhD with Robin Crewe (University of the Witwatersrand). Post-docs in Sydney (Ross Crozier), Nagoya (Yoshiaki Ito) and Würzburg (Bert Hölldobler). Research Scientist with CNRS (French National Scientific Research Agency) in Paris, France from 1991 until his death in 2020.
Dr. Peeters was an energetic, enthusiastic and well-liked myrmecologist. He was an avid field researcher, traveling the world in pursuit of finding answers to any number of questions that were on his mind at any given time. His field adventures were also exploratory. To find new ants he had not seen before, and observe and learn all he could about ant diversity and biology. Christian's unbounded curiosity, coupled with his vast knowledge of ant biology and general brilliance, are part of what made him a productive and insightful scientist. His curiosity also extended to those around him. Christian always had time to talk about science, and life, with any ant researcher he met. He wanted to know all about what any and all ant biologists he met were working on. These conversations would invariably leave one feeling better about themselves and their own work. Those that knew him, either through crossing paths with him a time or two or that knew him well, felt their life was enriched by their time spent with him. You can learn more about his work, friendly nature, love of life and people, and positive influence on his peers and friends by reading some reflections written-up here and here.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
- Baratte, S., Cobb M. & Peeters C. 2006. Reproductive conflicts and mutilation in queenless Diacamma ants. Anim. Behav. 72: 305–311.
- Baratte, S., C. Peeters & Deutsch J. 2006. Testing homology with morphology, development and gene expression: sex-specific thoracic appendages of the ant Diacamma. Evolution & Development 8: 433–445.
- Cournault, L., Peeters, C. 2012. Aggression regulates monogyny in non-mutilating Diacamma ants. Insectes Sociaux 59: 533-539 (doi:10.1007/s00040-012-0251-9).
- Dietemann, V., Peeters, C., Hölldobler, B. 2004. Gamergates in the Australian ant subfamily Myrmeciinae. Naturwissenschaften. 91 (9): 432–435 (doi:10.1007/s00114-004-0549-1).
- Fisher BL & Peeters C. 2019. Ants of Madagascar: a guide to the 62 genera / Fourmis de Madagascar: un guide pour les 62 genres. Association Vahatra, Antananarivo – Guides sur la diversité biologique de Madagascar. 253pp. ISBN 978–2–9538923–8–3
- Gobin, B., Peeters, C., Billen, J. 1998. Production of trophic eggs by virgin workers in the ponerine ant Gnamptogenys menadensis. Physiological Entomology 23: 329-336. (doi:10.1046/j.1365-3032.1998.234102.x).
- Heinze, J., Hölldobler B. & Peeters C. 1994. Conflict and cooperation in ant societies. Naturwissenschaften 81: 489-497.
- Monnin, T. & Peeters C. 2008. How many gamergates is an ant queen worth? Naturwissenschaften 95: 109–116.
- Monnin T, Espadaler X, Lenoir A & Peeters C 2013. Guide des Fourmis de France. L'indispensable guide des Fous de Nature, Belin. 160 p.
- O'Riain, M.J., J. Jarvis, R. Alexander, R. Buffenstein & C. Peeters 2000. Morphological castes in a vertebrate. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 97: 13194–97. [naked mole rats]
- Peeters, C. 1987. The reproductive division of labour in the queenless ponerine ant Rhytidoponera sp. 12. Insectes Sociaux 34 (2): 75–86 (doi:10.1007/BF02223826).
- Peeters, C. 1997. Morphologically “primitive” ants: comparative review of social characters, and the importance of queen-worker dimorphism. Pages 372-391 In: Choe, J. & B. Crespi (eds) The Evolution of Social Behavior in Insects and Arachnids. Cambridge University Press. (doi:10.1017/CBO9780511721953.019).
- Peeters, C., Crewe R. 1984. Insemination controls the reproductive division of labour in a ponerine ant. Naturwissenschaften 71: 50-51 (doi:10.1007/BF00365989).
- Peeters, C., Crewe, R.M. 1985. Worker reproduction in the ponerine ant Ophthalmopone berthoudi: an alternative form of eusocial organization. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 18: 29-37 (doi:10.1007/BF00299235).
- Peeters, C.P. & Crewe, R.M. 1986. Queenright and queenless breeding systems within the genus Pachycondyla (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of the Entomological Society of South Africa, 49: 251-255. (=Bothroponera kruegeri and Euponera wroughtonii compared)
- Peeters, C. & Fisher, B.L. 2016. Gamergates (mated egg-laying workers) and queens both reproduce in Euponera sikorae ants from Madagascar. African Entomology 24: 180-187 (doi:10.4001/003.024.0180).
- Peeters, C., Higashi S. & Ito F. 1991. Reproduction in ponerine ants without queens: monogyny and exceptionally small colonies in the Australian Pachycondyla sublaevis. Ethology, Ecology & Evolution, 3: 145-152. [=Pseudoneoponera sublaevis]]
- Peeters C & Holldobler B. 1995. Reproductive cooperation between queens and their mated workers: the complex life history of an ant with a valuable nest. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science 92: 10977–10979 (doi:10.1073/pnas.92.24.10977).
- Peeters, C., Hölldobler, B. 2000. Sexual reproduction by both queens and workers in the ponerine ant Harpegnathos saltator. Insectes Sociaux 47 (4): 325–332 (doi:10.1007/PL00001724).
- Tsuji, K., C. Peeters & Hölldobler B. 1998. Experimental investigation of the mechanism of reproductive differentiation in the queenless ant, Diacamma sp. from Japan. Ethology 104: 633-643.