The colonization and succession of periphytic ciliate communities on the natural (Phragmites australis and Typha Iatifolia) and artificial (glass slides) substrata were studied in 2 shallow lakes (Polesie Lubelskie, Eastern Poland). Sampling was done on a monthly basis from April to November 2003-2004. During each sampling occasion 6 periphton samples were collected from each type of substrata at 3 sites: the land/water contact zone, among emergent macrophytes, and at the emergent macrophytes/open water border. Irrespective of the type of substrate and trophic state, species number and densities of periphytic ciliates reached the highest value in the land/water contact zone and decreased in the direction of the area of emergent macrophytes/open water zone. In land/water contact zone, the biggest factors limiting the ciliate communities were temperature, conductivity, concentrations of total organic carbon and nutrient (Ptot and N-NH4). In turn, in the other 2 zones, the influence of chlorophyll a concentration increased.
