Long‐Term Patterns of Protozoan Colonization in Douglas Lake, Michigan

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Abstract
Long‐term patterns of noninteractive and interactive protozoan colonization of polyurethane foam (PF) artificial substrates in Douglas Lake, Michigan, were examined for a 14‐yr period. Species‐time data were fitted to the Mac Arthur‐Wilson equilibrium model, S =Šeq(1 ‐ eGt), and examined through time from 1969‐1982. Comparisons were made to historical water chemistry measurements. No long‐term changes in water chemistry were evident. Similarly, equilibrium species number (Šeq) and colonization rate (G) oscillated about a mean through time. Protozoan colonization of PF substrates appeared stable for extended periods and showed modest variation from year to year. Examination of 7‐yr‐old substrates in 1982 revealed little difference from young (< 50 days) substrates. Previous reports of senescence of artificial substrate communities may have been due to habitat loss within the substrates. No evidence existed for chemical or biological degradation of the lake.

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