Multiple stressors like alterations of water quality, hydrology and hydromorphology impact riverine ecosystems. To counteract its consequences, restoration measures are required, e.g. demanded by the EU Water Framework Directive. However, small-scale hydromorphological restoration measures often show little success. Besides overriding stressors, recolonization potential and insufficient time for development are often discussed as reasons for this lack of success. Over a period of 17 years a hydromorphological restoration measure in a German lowland stream reach was evaluated, excluding most of these confounding factors. The restoration measure was left to its self-dynamic development, i.e. there was no further intervention by water management, apart from some large wood installations after 8 years. In the accompanying studies, changes in hydromorphology and the organism groups macroinvertebrates (including both structural and functional diversities), fish and macrophytes were investigated.

We proved a rapid and stable enhancement of ecological functions as indicated by a diverse and resilient macroinvertebrate biocoenosis. Both taxonomic and functional richness of macroinvertebrates significantly increased, but varied over time. Since the restoration measure allowed self-dynamic development, a taxonomic and functional endpoint was not achieved even after 17 years, even though near-reference conditions were attained after only 4 years. Deficits in fish communities were most probably due to their low recolonization potential.

Our results underscore that small scale hydromorphological restoration can be successful if overriding stressors are absent. Furthermore, we proved the importance of self-dynamics in restoration measures, allowing hydromorphological and biological development.

诸如水质变化，水文学和水文形态等多重压力影响着河流生态系统。为了抵消其后果，需要采取恢复措施，例如欧盟水框架指令要求的措施。然而，小规模的水文形态恢复措施往往收效甚微。除了压倒一切的压力之外，人们经常讨论重新殖民的潜力和发展时间不足，这是缺乏成功的原因。在17年的时间里，评估了德国低地河段的水文形态恢复措施，其中不包括大多数这些混杂因素。恢复措施由其自身动态发展决定，即除8年后一些大型木材装置外，水管理没有其他干预措施。在伴随的研究中，

我们证明了生态功能的快速和稳定增强，这是由多样的，有弹性的大型无脊椎动物生物群落所表明的。无脊椎动物的分类学和功能丰富性均显着增加，但随时间变化。由于恢复措施允许自我动态发展，即使仅在4年后就达到了近乎参考的条件，即使在17年后仍未达到分类和功能终点。鱼群的赤字很可能是由于它们再殖民化的潜力低。

我们的结果强调，如果没有最重要的压力源，则小规模的水文形态恢复将是成功的。此外，我们证明了自我动力学在恢复措施中的重要性，这有助于水形态学和生物学的发展。