Dataset and Scripts

Last updated: Jul 17, 2025

This repository contains the dataset and R script associated with the manuscript "Ground warming boosts cooperative transport in a temperate ant species", accepted in Proceedings of the Royal Society B. The files support all analyses and figures presented in the publication.

Files

1. groundWarmingResultTable_Dryad.xlsx

Description:
Main dataset used in the study. This Excel file contains all observations used in statistical analyses and visualizations.

• Rows (n = 111): Each row represents a unique trial involving one ant nest, conducted under a specific warming treatment on a given date.
• Columns (n = 32): Each variable is described in detail below (see "Variable Descriptions").

2. groundWarmingResultTable_Dryad.csv

Description:
CSV version of the Excel dataset described above. This file contains the exact same content and structure as the Excel version, with identical variable names and row ordering.

3. EXP3_calentamiento.txt

Description:
Tab-delimited plain-text version of the Excel dataset described above. This file is explicitly referenced in the accompanying R script and was used for all statistical and SEM analyses reported in the manuscript. Although this .txt file is ready for immediate use in our R script, users may alternatively load the dataset from the original Excel file (.xlsx) or the CSV version by modifying the data import section of the R script accordingly.

4. EXP3_calentamiento.R

Description:
R script used to perform the full set of statistical analyses presented in the manuscript, including:

• Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs) testing the effect of warming on behavioral traits.
• Model comparison to assess the contribution of random effects (e.g., nest ID, trial order).
• Preparation of variables for structural equation modeling (SEM) using the lavaan package.

Variable descriptions

Units of measure and legends are provided where applicable.

1. num: Row index (1–111); numeric ID for each trial.
2. label: Unique code for each trial combining day, nest, and trial number (e.g., D3_N4_T1).
3. site: Field site. Categorical: ElCon = "El Cóndor"; Solares = "Solares".
4. day: Experimental day (e.g., D3, D10).
5. nest: Identifier for the focal nest (e.g., N4, N20).
6. trial: Trial number within day and nest (e.g., T1, T2).
7. date: Date of trial in DD_MM_YYYY format.
8. treat_lett2: Treatment group. Categorical: plus0 = control (ambient), plus05 = +5 °C, plus15 = +15 °C, plus25 = +25 °C.
9. treat_temp_avg: Mean plate surface temperature during trial (°C).
10. ambient_temp: Air temperature at ground level (°C).
11. success: Bait removed from arena (1 = yes, 0 = no).
12. move_1cm: Bait moved ≥1 cm (1 = yes, 0 = no).
13. angle: Angular deviation from nest direction (degrees).
14. angle_pos: Absolute angle (degrees).
15. bait_remov_prop: Proportion of bait removed (range: 0–1).
16. CT_success: Composite outcome variable for successful CT.
17. time_move: Time to initiation of bait movement (s).
18. time_transp: Duration of the transport phase (s).
19. time_total: Total duration of trial (s).
20. dist_transp_mm: Distance bait was transported (mm).
21. sinuosity: Path tortuosity; ratio of traveled distance to straight-line distance (unitless).
22. vel_indiv: Speed of individual ants during exploration (mm/s).
23. vel_navig_mms: Speed of ants during navigation (mm/s).
24. vel_transp_mms: Speed of bait during cooperative transport (mm/s).
25. recruit1_num,
26. recruit2_num: Number of ants around bait at two recruitment time points.
27. recruitAVG_num: Average number of recruiters. Calculated with recruit1_num, recruit2_num 
28. transp1_num,
29. transp2_num,
30. transp3_num: Number of ants transporting the bait at three points in time.
31. transpAVG_num: Average number of transporters. Calculated with transp1_num, transp2_num, transp3_num.
32. vel_index: Composite velocity index corrected for transporter number (unitless).

Notes

• Units:
  • Temperature: degrees Celsius (°C)
  • Distance: millimeters (mm)
  • Time: seconds (s)
  • Velocity: millimeters per second (mm/s)
  • Angles: degrees (°)

• Conditional blanks (n/a):
  Some cells are filled with n/a to indicate values that are not applicable. For example, when cooperative transport was unsuccessful (success = 0), variables like dist_transp_mm or vel_transp_mms are set to n/a because no movement occurred. These are not missing data, but conditional blanks based on experimental outcome.

• All analyses were performed in R version 4.2.2.
• For details on data processing and modeling procedures, refer to the Methods section of the manuscript.