HABITATS, LIFE CYCLES, AND GUILD STRUCTURE AMONG WATER STRIDERS (HETEROPTERA: GERRIDAE) ON THE FRASER PLATEAU OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

Abstract

Habitats and life cycles of five species of water striders were compared in south-central British Columbia. Three species of Gerris were bivoltine; both Limnoporus species were univoltine. Generation timing varied markedly among lakes and periods of maximum abundance for all species overlapped. Each species showed distinct association with a single type of habitat defined by vegetation structure. These associations separate most species among lakes and suggest that habitat is the most important resource axis for ecological separation of gerrid species on the Fraser Plateau.