Comparing salinity tolerance in embryonic and larval development of two species of water strider, Aquarius paludum and Gerris latiabdominis (Hemiptera: Gerridae).

Water strider Aquarius paludum (Fabricius) is a cosmopolitan species colonizes mainly freshwater but occasionally brackish habitats throughout the Palearctic and Oriental regions. Water strider Gerris latiabdominis (Miyamoto) is a common species in Japan lives in temporary habitats as freshwater paddy fields. These two species often occur syntopically. We investigated differences in the developmental response to brackish water during embryonic and larval stages between the two species. Eggs were exposed to 0-1.8% NaCl solutions within 24 h of oviposition. Larvae of G. latiabdominis were exposed to salinities of 0, 0.5%, and 0.9% from the first instar until adult emergence. Limits of NaCl concentration for hatching were 1.3% and 1.0% for A. paludum and G. latiabdominis, respectively. The hatching rate of G. latiabdominis was lower than that of A. paludum at salinities ≥ 0.9%. The period of embryonic development of G. latiabdominis was more prolonged than that of A. paludum at a given salinity. Although the salinity tolerance of G. latiabdominis was lower than that of A. paludum, our results suggest G. latiabdominis has the physiological capacity to expand into brackish waters. High and low salinity tolerances of A. paludum and G. latiabdominis, respectively, reflect the relatively wide range of habitat salinities utilized by A. paludum and the relatively restricted habitats preferred by G. latiabdominis. The high salinity tolerance of A. paludum could be an important factor contributing to their cosmopolitan distribution because high tolerance to salinity means the possibility of them to be dispersed via ocean or sea to other continents and islands.

How do water striders, Aquarius paludum, react to brackish water simulated by NaCl solutions?

Several stages, from eggs to adults, of the water strider, Aquarius paludum (Fabricius), inhabiting fresh water are sometimes conveyed by heavy flow in the rainy or typhoon seasons in Japan to lotic brackish water in the mouth of rivers. The water striders might then respond to salinity either by remaining to wait for extensive rainfall to reduce osmotic pressure locally before reproducing ("breed here and later tactic") or by flying away to reproduce in fresh waters elsewhere ("breed elsewhere and later tactic"). All first instars died before the first molt when they were exposed to 1.75 and 3.5% NaCl solutions in a laboratory experiment. Living on 0.5 and 0.9% solutions through larval and adult stages slowed down larval growth and suppressed female reproduction. When exposed to the 0.5 and 0.9% solutions, 90 and 92% of males, respectively, showed histolysis of their flight muscles. Therefore, in brackish natural habitats, larvae and adults seem to follow the strategy "breed here and later." When water striders were exposed to 0.9% solution either just after emergence or 20 days later, females showed a higher flight propensity than those kept on fresh waters throughout, and they delayed the deposition of eggs. Therefore, when conveyed to brackish water after emergence by stream flow after heavy rain, adults seem to leave the area by flight, demonstrating the strategy "breed elsewhere and later" tactic. We conclude that water striders use alternative tactics for responding to salinity, depending on the stage of exposure.

Adult flight in a water strider exposed to habitat drydown in the larval stages.

Aquarius paludum inhabits a wide variety of water surfaces, ranging from temporary to permanent ponds and lakes throughout the Palearctic. Thus, some larvae of A. paludum will be exposed to habitats that dry out. We assess here the influence of drying on water strider growth and development. When exposed to drying-out in the larval stage, the growth period was prolonged. Drying-out during one of the first three instars was associated with longer maintenance of flight muscles without histolysis and reduced the number of eggs laid by long-winged (LW) adults that shifted to a "flyer" strategy. Alternatively, adults exposed to dry habitats during whole larval period expressed shorter preoviposition periods and shifted to a "non-flying, reproducer" strategy. These contrasting responses to drying can be understood as flexible physiological functions depending on the drying history to which larvae are exposed. This flexibility may be a significant factor in allowing A. paludumto occupy such a wide range of habitats in Eurasia.