Reduced dispersal propensity in the wingless waterstrider Aquarius najas in a highly fragmented landscape

Dispersal and Migration Patterns of Freshwater Semiaquatic Bugs

Simple Summary

Semiaquatic bugs have colonized the water surface of most aquatic habitats, from small and temporary puddles and streams to the open ocean. Most semiaquatic bugs are wing-polymorphic, as some individuals have fully developed wings (macropterous) and others have shortened wings (brachypterous) or are wingless (apterous). This is characteristic for most temperate water striders, common on lakes, fishponds, and pools around the world. The report presented here is based on the collection of more than 23,000 individuals of nine species of semiaquatic bugs that were individually marked by a unique code and released. The recaptures revealed several distinct dispersal strategies, with differences among individual species. Collection of the marked bugs also helped to describe dispersal via the water surface by flightless individuals. Using the results of the presented survey, our knowledge of these interesting insects is considerably extended, and it can help us to understand the general dispersal patterns of aquatic insects.

Abstract

Semiaquatic bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gerromorpha) are mostly wing-polymorphic species with flight dispersal as an important life history trait, but the specific flight ability and dispersal pattern remain unexplored in most species. This report presents the results of a long-term survey based on the individual marking of more than 23,000 specimens of eight water striders (Gerridae) and a water cricket Velia caprai (Veliidae). Three distinct lentic habitats were sampled (solitary fishponds, systems of nearby fishponds and systems of small, often temporary pools) and one lotic habitat—a small forest stream. Recaptures revealed that three gerrid species tend to stay at the breeding site, but can differ in dispersal via the water surface. Reproductive flightless females disperse most actively via the water surface, possibly bypassing the trade-off between dispersal and reproduction. One species has a sex-dependent dispersal pattern, with females being rather philopatric, whereas males often disperse. Three other gerrid species are highly dispersive and tend to change breeding site. V. caprai, the only lotic species included in this survey, tend to move upstream and possibly compensate for the downstream drift.