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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

J. R. Spence  and
G. G. E. Scudder
J. R. Spence
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1W5
G. G. E. Scudder
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1W5
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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.

Résumé

L’habitat et le cycle vital ont été comparés entre 5 espèces de patineurs du centre méridional de la Colombie Britannique. Trois espèces de Gerris sont bivoltines et les 2 espèces de Limnoporus sont univoltines. La chronologie du cycle vital a montré des différences marquées entre différents lacs, et les périodes d’abondance maximum se superposaient pour toutes les espèces. Chaque espèce s’est révélée associée de façon distinctive à un seul type d’habitat défini par la structure végétale. Ces associations séparent la plupart des espèces entre différents lacs et permettent de penser que, parmi les ressources des gerrides du Plateau du Fraser, l’habitat est la plus importante pour la ségrégation écologique des espèces.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 112 , Issue 8 , 01 August 1980 , pp. 779 - 792
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1980

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