The objective of this research was to validate the colonization process on natural and artificial substrates by benthic invertebrates in a tropical stream in South Brazil. The samples were performed in July and August-2012, and 32 samplers were used, being 16 natural and 16 artificial substrates. In each sample, two replicas were taken for each substrate at the 2th, 4th, 7th, 14th, 21th 28th, 35th and 42th days of colonization. The organisms were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. In both substrates 3,070 benthic invertebrates were detected, of which 1,753 individuals were collected on the natural substrate, and 1,317 on the artificial substrate. From the identified taxa 8.5% were not dominant (Anacroneuria, Orthocladiinae, Tupiara,... |