Substrate preferences of coexisting invasive amphipods, Dikerogammarus villosus and Dikerogammarus haemobaphes, under field and laboratory conditions

• Published in: Biological invasions Vol. 20; no. 8; pp. 2187 - 2196
• Main Authors: Clinton, K. E., Mathers, K. L., Constable, D., Gerrard, C., Wood, P. J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01-08-2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Amphipoda; Biogeography; Developmental Biology; Dikerogammarus haemobaphes; Dikerogammarus villosus; Ecology; Experiments; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Habitat availability; Habitat preferences; Habitats; Laboratories; Life Sciences; Macroinvertebrates; Nonnative species; Original Paper; Plant Sciences; Populations; Preferences; Range extension; Reservoirs; Substrate preferences; Substrates; United Kingdom > UK; Eastern Europe; Killer and demon shrimp; Non-native species; Habitat selection; Habitat heterogeneity; Ponto-Caspian
• ISSN: 1387-3547; 1573-1464
• DOI: 10.1007/s10530-018-1695-2

Two Ponto-Caspian amphipods,
Dikerogammarus villosus
and
Dikerogammarus haemobaphes
, have expanded their geographical ranges from eastern Europe into Great Britain in recent years. This study represents one of the first examining the distribution and habitat preferences of coexisting populations of
D. haemobaphes
and
D. villosus
via field and laboratory experiments in the UK. Field surveys of a recently invaded lowland reservoir in the UK are complimented with ex situ laboratory mesocosm experiments examining the substrate preferences of coexisting populations of
D. villosus
and
D. haemobaphes
. Results from the field study indicated that
D. haemobaphes
dominated the macroinvertebrate community within the reservoir and demonstrated a strong affinity for large cobble and artificial substrates.
D. villosus
occurred at lower abundances but displayed a strong preference for coarse cobble substrates. A third invasive amphipod,
Crangonyx pseudogracilis,
was largely confined to sand/silt habitats. Laboratory mesocosm experiments clearly supported the field observations of
D. villosus and D. haemobaphes
with both species demonstrating a preference for cobble substrates. Results from the study highlight the importance of characterising physical habitat when investigating biological invasions and suggest that habitat availability may influence the extent and speed at which range expansion of new amphipod invaders occurs.