She has extensively researched collective behavior, how colonies operate without central control, and comparisons between the workings of nature and other systems, such as the brain.

One of the main areas of Gordon's research is the evolution of collective behavior regarding ant colonies and the field of biology as a whole.

These included the availability of resources, the operating costs associated with collective behavior, and the threat of network rupture.

In addition to supporting the coherence of the colony, recognizing nest mates versus non-nestmates is equally essential.

Specific chemical profiles are associated with non-nestmates, and previous interactions with those ants determine how the colony will respond to the foreigners.

This concept remains steadfast in her paper "From division of labor to the collective behavior of social insects,"[7] which clarifies ants' process when deciding which task to dedicate their energy to.

Ants do not carry out jobs that fit their strengths but instead, choose tasks depending on shifting interactions between others in the collective.

In the article "Plant defense, herbivory, and the growth of Cordia alliodora trees and their symbiotic Azteca ant colonies,"[9] Gordon investigated the mutualistic relationship between two populations of Amazonian myrmecophytes, Cordia nodosa and Duroia hirsuta and their symbiotic ants.

The strong mutualistic relationship between the Amazonian myrmecophytes and ants allowed some groups in the study to grow very large and live significantly longer.

Using seven years of data in a biological preserve in northern California, Gordon and a team of researchers documented the aftermath of the invasive Argentine ant, including loss of biodiversity and changes in community organization of the species that did survive.

"[14] Her work influences several fields of biology and has provided valuable insights into self-organization, complex systems, and decentralized decision-making.

Gordon's research on ants teaches us about the adaptive nature of colonies and is helpful to better understanding and improving human systems and organizations.