Habitat Partitioning among Developmental Stages of Waterstriders (Heteroptera: Gerridae)

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Abstract
Independent studies in Finland and Canada showed that the first 3 instars of several species of waterstriders were found consistently in denser vegetation than were adults and instars 4 and 5. In species associated with emergent vegetation, younger stages were found nearer the shore and on shallower water. Space was partitioned among species with respect to vegetation type (= habitat). Spatial separation of developmental stages corresponded mainly to distribution along density gradients both within and among vegetation types. Hypotheses are discussed which explain the observed distributions according to potential selective impacts of competition, optimization of foraging, avoidance of predation, refuges from physical disturbance and oviposition preferences.

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