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Abstract
The mussel Xenostrobus securis is endemic to the brackish waters of New Zealand and Australia, but has successfully invaded the inner Galician Rías of NW Spain, where it coexists with the indigenous mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. In this laboratory study, the plasticity of the byssus attachment strength of two mytilids was compared by manipulating substratum, salinity, and bed assembly. M. galloprovincialis showed stronger byssus detachment strength than X. securis, despite lower byssus coverage. Both species responded similarly to the substratum, with substantially lower byssus strength on methacrylate, which offered the lowest surface free energy. Byssus detachment values for M. galloprovincialis were lower at lower salinity. In mixed beds, a number of mussels moved upwards, eventually colonising the upper layers of the assemblage. This behaviour increased byssus strength but only for X. securis. X. securis is adapted to a wide spectrum of abiotic conditions, a trait that may promote its dissemination within estuarine environments.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank E. Silva Caride for technical assistance in the field and laboratory. This study was funded by the project AGL2010-16,464 (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Spanish government). The authors also thank Dr Carmen Serra Rodríguez (CACTI) who carried out surface analyses and highlighted interesting comments. The reports of two anonymous reviewers were very helpful in improving the manuscript.