Many prey species employ multiple defenses during interactions with predators. Multiple defenses can provide a selective advantage against a single predator at different stages of the interaction or attack, as well as against multiple predator types. However, the efficacy of multiple defenses both during different sequences of an attack and against multiple predator types, remains poorly understood. We measured and classified defensive traits used by five mimics (Müllerian and Batesian) of the myrmecomorphic golden mimicry complex and one non-mimetic species. We then performed predatory trials using two different predators that differed markedly in their body size, trophic specialization, and how they handle prey—one being an ant specialist (spider) and the other a generalist which avoided ants (skink). We identified 12 defensive traits and classified them into four groups (primary, chemical, mechanical, and behavioral), which were strongly correlated. Skinks were much less likely to attack and capture mimics than the ant-eating spider predators. Our results show that multiple defenses (five or six) were used against each predator. The defensive behaviors and features that were most effective against skinks included appendage waving and large body size, whereas the golden “shine” warning signal, large body size, cuticle thickness, and defensive gland size were most effective against spiders. Most defenses appeared to be predator-specific. We conclude that potential prey in the golden mimicry complex have been selected for multiple defenses because of their vulnerability to different predator types and consequently, the efficacy of some of these defenses likely represents a trade-off.

中文翻译：

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黄金拟态动物使用多重防御来对抗通才和专业掠食者

许多猎物物种在与捕食者相互作用时采用多种防御措施。多重防御可以在相互作用或攻击的不同阶段针对单一捕食者以及多种捕食者类型提供选择性优势。然而，在不同的攻击序列中以及针对多种捕食者类型的多重防御的功效仍然知之甚少。我们对五种拟态金色拟态复合体和一种非拟态物种的防御特征进行了测量和分类。然后，我们使用两种不同的捕食者进行了捕食试验，这两种捕食者的体型、营养专门化以及如何处理猎物都存在显着差异，其中一个是蚂蚁专家（蜘蛛），另一个是避开蚂蚁的多面手（石龙子）。我们确定了 12 种防御特征，并将它们分为四组（主要、化学、机械和行为），这些特征密切相关。与吃蚂蚁的蜘蛛掠食者相比，石龙子攻击和捕获模仿者的可能性要小得多。我们的结果表明，针对每种捕食者使用了多种防御措施（五种或六种）。对石龙子最有效的防御行为和特征包括挥动附肢和大体型，而金色“闪耀”警告信号、大体型、角质层厚度和防御腺体大小对蜘蛛最有效。大多数防御似乎都是针对捕食者的。我们得出的结论是，金色拟态复合体中的潜在猎物已被选择用于多重防御，因为它们对不同捕食者类型的脆弱性，因此，