Need for speed? It is not necessary to be always the fastest–a case study of two thermophilous ant species

When the decisions about the movement are made and the animal should adjust the trajectory and movement speed to maximise the efficiency in reaching its goal. The most important environmental factor, which influence the movement in case of ectothermic ants, is temperature. In the current experiment, we compared how species with different thermal adaptations responded to foraging in the thermally challenging conditions. To be more specific, how the external temperature influences the inbound time and path (straightness) of ants' movement when they return to the nest with prey. Generally, workers’ inbound time was linked with the mean speed of foraging ants in case of both species–faster workers return earlier to the nest. The straightness of workers’ movements–the path they took to the nest–was not linked with sand temperature, nor with the speed of workers in case of C. velox. On the contrary, in case of A. senilis, the straightness of workers’ movements was linked with mean speed of an..., , # Need for speed? It is not necessary to be always the fastest–a case study of two thermophilous ant species

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.z612jm6q8](10.5061/dryad.z612jm6q8)

## Description of the data and file structure

In this study, we compare the response of two behaviourally subordinate (species that are at the bottom of the dominance/aggression hierarchy) and thermophilous (species thriving at high soil temperatures) ant species to the thermally challenging conditions. To be more specific, how the external temperature influences the speed and path of ant movement in *Cataglyphis velox* and *Aphaenogaster senilis*, when they return to the nest with prey.

### Files and variables

#### File: Ślipiński_et_al_-_Supplementary_material__1.docx

**Description:** Supplementary figures and literature

#### File: Ślipiński_et_al_-_Supplementary_material_Tab_S2.xlsx

**Description:** Raw data from ants' movement

**Sheets**: There are two sheets in the file, one with the data from Cataglyph...,