This isn't a new paper but it is just such a great example of how evolution has lead to a resolution to a conflict. In some species of ants they have secondarily lost their queen. This means that any worker has the potential to mate and become reproductive. This could lead to complete anarchy but in many species only one female is reproductive, called a gamergate. This is amazing, due to the potential for such a high level of competition for reproduction. But this study, abstract and link below, by Monnin et al (2002) found that the alpha female can use the fact that ants have highly developed olfactory senses, used in various types of recognition etc, to enforce her reproductive dominance by marking her rival with a smell that makes the workers beat her up. The natural world is awesome and the science that goes into investigating it is equally amazing!
Monnin, Ratnieks, Jones & Beard (2002) Pretender punishment induced by chemical signalling in a queenless ant. Nature, 419:61-65
Animal societies are stages for both conflict and cooperation. Reproduction is often monopolized by one or a few individuals who behave aggressively to prevent subordinates from reproducing (for example, naked mole-rats1, wasps2 and ants3). Here we report an unusual mechanism by which the dominant individual maintains reproductive control. In the queenless ant Dinoponera quadriceps, only the alpha female reproduces. If the alpha is challenged by another female she chemically marks the pretender who is then punished4 by low-ranking females. This cooperation between alpha and low-rankers allows the alpha to inflict punishment indirectly, thereby maintaining her reproductive primacy without having to fight.
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v419/n6902/full/nature00932.html
Monnin, Ratnieks, Jones & Beard (2002) Pretender punishment induced by chemical signalling in a queenless ant. Nature, 419:61-65
Animal societies are stages for both conflict and cooperation. Reproduction is often monopolized by one or a few individuals who behave aggressively to prevent subordinates from reproducing (for example, naked mole-rats1, wasps2 and ants3). Here we report an unusual mechanism by which the dominant individual maintains reproductive control. In the queenless ant Dinoponera quadriceps, only the alpha female reproduces. If the alpha is challenged by another female she chemically marks the pretender who is then punished4 by low-ranking females. This cooperation between alpha and low-rankers allows the alpha to inflict punishment indirectly, thereby maintaining her reproductive primacy without having to fight.
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v419/n6902/full/nature00932.html
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