BiodivRestore: Verknüpfung der Entwicklung der biologischen Vielfalt und der Funktionsweise von Ökosystemen mit der Wiederherstellung der hydromorphologischen Heterogenität in Süßwasserökosystemen (RESTOLINK) - Die Bedeutung hydromorphologischer Heterogenität für Biodiversität und Multifunktionalität

Abstract

Rivers and streams are among the most degraded ecosystems worldwide, yet they play a crucial role in providing clean water, supporting biodiversity, storing carbon, and reducing flood risks. In response, restoration approaches that aim to improve in-stream hydromorphology, such as channel structure, flow variability, and habitat diversity, are increasingly implemented worldwide. However, many of these restoration efforts fail to achieve good ecological status or to fully recover biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Scientific evidence suggests that hydromorphology strongly influences both biodiversity and ecosystem processes in rivers, indicating that the potential of hydromorphological restoration remains underexploited. RESTOLINK was built on the premise that restoration often underperforms because it does not sufficiently account for the spatial scales of river structure and flow that are most relevant to organisms and ecosystem functioning. In addition, traditional indicators of restoration success, which primarily focus on diversity and community composition, may show recovery trajectories different from those of key ecosystem functions, such as nutrient cycling.