WHAT THE EVIDENCE SAYS
After artificial riffles and cross-vanes, the stream was wider, shallower and had more diverse substrate and transient storage. Yet gross primary production fell and ammonium/phosphorus uptake efficiency and respiration did not clearly improve; functions remained below reference conditions.
WHY IT MATTERS / OUR READ
Morphological success and ecological-function recovery are different outcomes. Restoration reporting should test metabolism and nutrient cycling alongside channel geometry.
CAVEATS / UNCERTAINTY
One stream, limited follow-up and no randomized replicated treatments; further ecological adjustment may take longer.
SOURCE
Restoration Ecology · primary before–after experiment
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