Evaluating wetland vegetation responses to flow regimes is challenging because of the inherently complex, variable and dynamic nature of wetland vegetation in space and time. We propose four principles to guide the development of management objectives and evaluation approaches to support adaptive management of wetland vegetation in flow-managed systems. First, we assert a need for more explicit, direct and defensible alignment of management objectives, targets and indicators to reflect broader ecological, sociocultural and economic values, and the underlying ecosystem functions that support them. Second, we propose a framework for indicator selection across multiple spatiotemporal scales and levels of ecological organisation, from individuals to landscape mosaics (vegscapes). Third, we emphasise the need to evaluate vegetation condition and responses to environmental flows in relation to a more nuanced understanding of temporal flow dynamics. Finally, we discuss the importance of considering the effects of non-flow variables that can modify vegetation responses to environmental flows. We highlight key knowledge needs required to support the implementation of these principles, particularly the urgency of improving our understanding of ecological, sociocultural and economic values of wetland vegetation and the attributes and functions that support these values.

由于湿地植被在空间和时间上具有固有的复杂性、可变性和动态性，因此评估湿地植被对流态的响应具有挑战性。我们提出了四项原则来指导管理目标和评估方法的制定，以支持流量管理系统中湿地植被的适应性管理。首先，我们认为需要更明确、直接和合理地调整管理目标、目标和指标，以反映更广泛的生态、社会文化和经济价值，以及支持它们的潜在生态系统功能。其次，我们提出了一个跨多个时空尺度和生态组织水平的指标选择框架，从个体到景观镶嵌（vegscapes）。第三，我们强调需要评估植被状况和对环境流量的响应，以便更细致地了解时间流动态。最后，我们讨论了考虑非流量变量影响的重要性，这些变量可以改变植被对环境流量的响应。我们强调支持实施这些原则所需的关键知识需求，特别是提高我们对湿地植被的生态、社会文化和经济价值以及支持这些价值的属性和功能的理解的紧迫性。