One of the most critical factors that affects the distribution and abundance of D. polymorpha is suitable substrate for attachment (Karatayev et al. 1998). Juvenile and adult zebra mussels are epifaunal and sessile. They are most abundant on hard surfaces, particularly rocky surfaces, and on macrophytes.
Although possible, it is more rare that they will successfully establish a colony on soft, fine sediments like silts and clays. Zebra mussels can often live in such silty sediments by initially attaching to small fragments of plants, wood, shells, and stones and subsequently attaching to each other to form druses. Berkman et al. (1998) have provided evidence that zebra mussels can directly colonize sand particles smaller than 1 mm and then use their byssal threads to bind sediments into conglomerates.