Ponto-Caspian amphipod co-location with zebra mussel beds (Dreissena polymorpha) is influenced by substrate size and population source

The global spread of non-native species is leading to an increasing frequency of multiple co-occurring non-native species. We examined the co-occurrence of Dreissena polymorpha with three Ponto-Caspian amphipods (Dikerogammarus villosus, Dikerogammarus haemobaphes, and Chelicorophium curvispinum) across England and Wales in association with in-situ substate size. For all three amphipod species, substrate grain size where amphipods co-occurred with D. polymorpha was significantly finer than when recorded in isolation. Subsequently, we confirmed this observational association via aquarium experiments. We examined the occurrence of D. villosus with D. polymorpha when present with cobbles, gravel or sand from three population sources (co-location with abundant D. polymorpha populations, co-location with low populations, and naïve). Aquarium experiments demonstrated that D. villosus actively sought shelter on or near D. polymorpha, with their co-location being significantly more prevalent in finer grained substrates (sand > gravel > cobble). The strength of this co-location was also found to differ as a function of the population source with those co-located with high D. polymorpha densities demonstrating a greater association. Our analyses and experiments indicate that D. polymorpha may enable Ponto-Caspian amphipods to expand into otherwise suboptimal locations.