Restoration Of Activity Research Articles

Pisanie w stanie wyjątkowym i lektura jako czynność naprawcza. Genezy i pożytki z literatury kruchości

This article presents a theoretical framework and a network of concepts that could be useful in analyzing illness narratives. As a relatively new field of the humanities, the cultural discourse of health and illness is still in need of an appropriate methodology and a set of handy concepts, i.e. a foundational cultural theory fit to deal with texts con-cerned with the specific experience of health and illness. Here the key concepts are fragility, reparability, vulnerability and harm. While drawing on the idea of ‘writing in a state of emergency’, based on Giorgio Agamben’s discussion in The State of Exception, the article also offers the author’s own conceptions of a ‘fragile alliance’ and of reading illness narratives as a therapeutic (restorative) activity.

Postictal recovery of orientation in person, place and time relates to restoration of cortical activity after electroconvulsive therapy

IntroductionMost patients show temporary impairments in clinical orientation (i.e., orientation in person, place, and time) after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)-induced seizures. It is unclear whether postictal reorientation is related to electroencephalography (EEG) restoration. This tentative relationship may shed light on mechanistic aspects of reorientation after ECT.ObjectivesTo study whether postictal EEG restoration after an ECT-induced seizure is related to recovery of clinical orientation in the cognitive domains person, place and time.MethodsWe performed a longitudinal study in ECT patients and collected continuous postictal EEGs. Postictal EEG restoration was estimated by the evolution of the normalized alpha/delta ratio (ADR). Recovery of orientation in the cognitive domains of person, place, and time was assessed using the Reorientation Time (ROT) questionnaire. In each cognitive domain, a linear mixed model was fitted to investigate the relationship between ROT and postictal EEG restoration. In these models, other (ECT-)parameters including seizure duration, use of benzodiazepines and electrode placement were included.ResultsIn total, 272 ictal and postictal EEG recordings of 32 patients were included. In all domains, longer ROT was associated with slower postictal EEG recovery. Longer seizure duration and use of benzodiazepines were related to longer ROT in all domains. Increased total charge of the ECT-stimulus was associated with increased ROT in place and age was positively associated with ROT in time.Image:Image 2:ConclusionsWe show a relationship between restoration of the postictal EEG and clinical reorientation in person, place and time after ECT-induced seizures. This indicates that clinical reorientation probably depends on gradual cortical synaptic recovery. Increased seizure duration and the use of benzodiazepines were also related to increased ROT values. Longer seizures and use of benzodiazepines may induce longer postictal synaptic depression.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Community science for assessing the vulnerability of freshwater ecosystems: Water quality monitoring, restoration, and outreach by young naturalists in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Community science models that complement formal scientific investigations are valuable tools for addressing gaps in knowledge and engaging the community. Freshwater quality monitoring and vulnerability assessment, for example, are essential for conserving freshwater ecosystems, but often suffer from limited resources. While municipal programs focus on priority areas, community-based models can improve overall coverage both spatially and temporally. As an example of how community science initiatives centered on freshwater ecosystems enhance monitoring capacity, we present the case of the Young Naturalists Club (YNC) in Nova Scotia, Canada. The YNC's Nature Guardians program involves youth aged 10-14 in water monitoring, restoration, and outreach activities within Shubie Park, in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Between 2018 and 2021 the Nature Guardians collected water monitoring data at multiple park locations, and shared findings with city authorities and the Atlantic Water Network. In response to high bacteria counts, and concerns over nutrient influxes, the group's 2021-2023 restoration efforts have aimed to improve water quality, focusing on native plantings and outreach signage. This type of community-based monitoring offers several advantages, including local site selection based on community concerns, the potential for low-cost long-term monitoring, and community engagement. While a community-based monitoring model presents certain challenges including data standardization and verification, it offers a broader reach and can produce high-quality data when appropriate protocols are followed. This case underscores the potential of a community-based water quality monitoring approach and highlights the potential for community science to augment existing assessment structures, ultimately contributing to more resilient and sustainable freshwater ecosystems.

Limited recovery of soil organic carbon and soil biophysical functions after old field restoration in an agricultural landscape

AbstractThe conversion of woodland ecosystems to agricultural landscapes has led to unprecedented losses of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning globally. Unsustainable agricultural practices have contributed to the degradation of soil's physical and biogeochemical properties. Ecological restoration of unproductive agricultural land is imperative for reversing land degradation and ameliorating the degrading effects of agriculture on biodiversity and ecosystem functions. However, it is unclear to what extent common restoration activities, such as tree planting, can facilitate the recovery of ecosystem condition and in particular, improve soil physical, biogeochemical and biotic components. Here, we investigated how the cessation of cropping, followed by tree planting, affected soil carbon concentrations and key biophysical soil functions. Data were collected across 10 sites a decade after the replanting of woody species on old fields in semi‐arid Western Australia. We applied a chronosequence approach and measured soil functions in fallow cropland (restoration starting point), 10‐year‐old planted old fields and intact woodland reference sites (restoration target point). We stratified sampling between open areas and patches under trees in planted old fields and reference woodlands to account for inherent biophysical differences. Soils under planted trees recovered to some extent, having reduced soil compaction and higher soil penetration depth in comparison with the fallow cropland. However, soils under trees in planted old fields did not reach woodland reference conditions for these properties. Moreover, recovery was not evident for other soil physical, biogeochemical and biotic components such as soil organic carbon, soil moisture, leaf litter and woody debris decomposition rates. Limited recovery of soil functions may be at least partly explained by time lags associated with slow growth rates of planted trees in dry ecosystems. Our study shows that the legacy of cropping can persist over long timeframes in semi‐arid regions, with modest signs of woodland recovery beginning to emerge 10 years after tree planting.

MedGermDB: A seed germination database for characteristic species of Mediterranean habitats

AbstractSeed germination is a crucial phase of plant responses in early life to current and future environmental conditions. However, germination data are still scarce or disaggregated for many plant lineages and regions, including global biodiversity hotspots such as the Mediterranean Basin. We present MedGermDB, the first germination database for characteristic species of Mediterranean habitats, as defined by the EUNIS classification. We also present a systematic approach to build germination databases using automatic and semi‐automatic data extraction from the literature. MedGermDB contains germination data for 4680 laboratory tests performed with 236 angiosperm species from 43 families, extracted from 125 literature sources (2837 sources screened). Each test is associated to a seed lot (i.e., a seed collection of a plant species obtained from a specific location at a specific time) and its metadata, recording geographical information and experimental conditions (storage, dormancy‐breaking treatments, incubation temperature, and photoperiod). MedGermDB is available as a csv file, and through a web app: https://dianamariacruztejada.shinyapps.io/medgermdb/. MedGermDB can be used to explore eco‐evolutionary questions and provides a backbone data set for informing effective seed‐based conservation and ecological restoration activities targeting EUNIS habitats. Our methodological approach to data extraction can be extended to other study systems, contributing to global efforts to mobilize germination data.

Combining different species in restoration is not always the right decision: Monocultures can provide higher ecological functions than intercropping in a desert ecosystem

Vegetation restoration in deserts is challenging due to these ecosystems' inherent fragility and harsh environmental conditions. One approach for active restoration involves planting native species, which can accelerate the recovery of ecosystem functions. To ensure the effectiveness of this process, carefully selecting species for planting is crucial. Generally, it is expected that a more diverse mix of species in the plantation will lead to the recovery of a greater number of ecosystem functions, especially when the selected species have complementary niche traits that facilitate maximum cooperation and minimize competition among them. In this study, we evaluated the planting of two native species from the hyper-desert of Taklamakan, China, which exhibit marked morpho-physiological differences: a phreatophytic legume (Alhagi sparsifolia) and a halophytic non-legume (Karelinia caspia). These species were grown in both monoculture and intercrop communities. Monoculture of the legume resulted in the highest biomass accumulation. Intercropping improved several ecosystem functions in the 50 cm-upper soil, particularly those related to phosphorus (P), carbon (C), and sulfur (S) concentrations, as well as soil enzyme activities. However, it also increased soil sodium (Na+) concentration and pH. Halophyte monocultures enhanced ecological functions associated with nitrogen concentrations in the upper soil and with P, S, C, and cation concentrations (K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Zn2+, Co2+, Ni2+), along with enzyme activities in the deep soil. It also maximized Na+ accumulation in plant biomass. In summary, we recommend legume monoculture when the primary goal is to optimize biomass accumulation. Conversely, halophyte monoculture is advisable when the objective is to extract sodium from the soil or enhance ecosystem functions in the deep soil. Intercropping the two species is recommended to maximize the ecosystem functions of the upper soil, provided there is no salinization risk. When planning restoration efforts in desert regions, it is essential to understand the impact of each species on ecosystem function and how complementary species behave when intercropped. However, these interactions are likely species- and system-specific, highlighting the need for more work to optimize solutions for different arid ecosystems.

Features of building physical therapy programs to improve mobility in the cervical-thoracic spine

the article discusses the peculiarities of developing physical therapy programs to improve mobility in the cervical-thoracic spine. The author examines the relationship between neck pain and thoracic spine conditions, providing approaches to effectively reduce pain and increase mobility. The article reveals specific methods and tools that contribute not only to pain relief but also to active restoration of mobility in both parts of the spine. The author takes into account the individual characteristics of patients, offering a personalized approach to the physical therapy program. The proposed methodology helps to improve the general condition of the body, psycho-emotional state, mobility in the thoracic spine, and reduce pain in the neck, shoulder girdle, and thoracic spine. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the developed physical therapy program for patients with neck pain and impaired mobility of the thoracic spine (kyphotic posture), a study was conducted on 5 patients who were observed at the Institute of Vertebrology and Rehabilitation clinic in Kyiv. Kyiv.

Autophagy-mediated degradation of integumentary tapetum is critical for embryo pattern formation

Autophagy modulates the degradation and recycling of intracellular materials and contributes to male gametophyte development and male fertility in plants. However, whether autophagy participates in seed development remains largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that autophagy is crucial for timely programmed cell death (PCD) in the integumentary tapetum, the counterpart of anther tapetum, influencing embryo pattern formation and seed viability. Inhibition of autophagy resulted in delayed PCD of the integumentary tapetum and defects in embryo patterning. Cell-type-specific restoration of autophagic activities revealed that the integumentary tapetum plays a non-autonomous role in embryo patterning. Furthermore, high-throughput, comprehensive lipidomic analyzes uncovered an unexpected seed-developmental-stage-dependent role of autophagy in seed lipid metabolism: it contributes to triacylglycerol degradation before fertilization and to triacylglycerol biosynthesis after fertilization. This study highlights the critical role of autophagy in regulating timely integumentary tapetum PCD and reveals its significance in seed lipid metabolism and viability.

Demonstrating the effectiveness of open‐water wetlandscape restoration: lessons learned from South‐Eastern Europe

This paper evaluates the effectiveness of restoring open‐water area in a wetland via a geographical framework that goes from a general perspective to a detailed view. The methodology relies on diachronic cartography, remote sensing through Landsat satellite imagery validated by in situ hydrological data (2000–2022), and details from field work. We analyzed the water surface area of Comana freshwater marsh in Southern Romania. The water surface area recorded a statistical change point synchronous to the restoration actions. The water surface area increased due to restoration actions in 2011 and then became relatively stable. Post‐restoration, the mean monthly discharge of Neajlov River correlates statistically with the water surface area. The water has low depths in the marsh; yet, the area covered by vegetation appears to be stable. The persistence of the effects for over a decade recommends Comana Marsh as a demonstrative case study in South‐Eastern Europe and for further monitoring activities.

The capacitated [formula omitted]-hub interdiction problem with congestion: Models and solution approaches

We study the r-hub interdiction problem under the case of possible congestion. Hub interdiction problems are modeled as attacker-defender problems to identify a set of r critical hubs from a set of p hubs, which when attacked, causes maximum damage to network restoration activities of the defender. In this work we consider that in addition to the routing cost, the defender also aims to minimize the congestion cost. Incorporating the congestion cost in the problem introduces non-linearity in the objective function of the interdiction problem, which makes the problem challenging to solve. To address this, we propose two alternate exact solution approaches. The first approach is an inner-approximation-based approach (IBA), which overestimates the convex non-linear objective function and provides an upper bound. A lower bound is obtained from solving the lower-level problem exactly corresponding to the upper bound solution. The upper bound is tightened using improved approximation with new points generated in successive iterations. In the second approach (referred to as SBA), the problem is reformulated as a second-order conic program, which can be solved using an off-the-shelf solver. From our computational experiments on benchmark datasets (CAB and AP), we demonstrate the efficacy of both the proposed methods. However, IBA consistently outperforms SBA by a significant margin.

Fostering biodiversity research in post-fire biology

The impacts of wildfire on vegetation and soil erosion have been studied for decades aiming to bring back ecosystems after fire perturbance. However, the influence of fires on above and belowground biodiversity remains far less understood. Biodiversity is critical for supporting ecosystem function, and this data scarcity is hampering managers in adopting effective practices for a proper restoration of burned ecosystems. This limitation could be overcome by future research that should focus post-fire diversity of plants and soil biota, by (i) analysing the environmental factors driving post-fire evolutionary trends; (ii) exploring their interrelations across different spatial and temporal scales; (iii) identifying the variability across fires of different severities and frequency; (iv) ascertaining the post-fire response of individual plant species and soil taxa to fire with or without application of post-fire restoration actions.

Mapping Restorative Justice for Green Crime Offenders: An Empirical Study of Sentencing Outcomes in China

ABSTRACT Restorative justice (RJ) has attracted significant attention from academia and the criminal justice system across civil society, yet studies that incorporate RJ factors to explain criminal sanction results remain scarce. This study utilizes the precision matching approach to examine sentencing outcomes for green offenses and tests the assumption that green offenders with RJ measures receive more leniency in court than those without RJ. Our findings reveal that most types of green crimes with the involvement of RJ, except for illegal mining have obtained less severe sanction results to a varied degree in terms of probation incidence and lengths of incarceration. By comparison, we also find that the judge might consider reduce penalties when the offender has a guilty plea with or without restorative justice activities (RJA). Additionally, there is a tendency to apply RJ to cases with less severe offenses, and the offenders with RJA seem to be more convincing than those surrendering themselves for shorter sentences. The results provide more empirical evidence for the impacts of RJ intervention on criminal sanctions and also raise concerns about the particularity and discretion of incorporating RJ in the context of green criminology.

A model for quantification of environmental risk in mining ventures

The premature termination of industrial projects, often triggered by insufficient revenue generation to cover liabilities, poses a significant challenge in project evaluation. Although the conventional discounted cash flow (DCF) method remains widely used, its inability to account for project failure probabilities can lead to resource misallocation. This study aims to address this limitation by applying real options theory to assess the risk of premature abandonment within the context of a mineral extraction project. In this proposed system, fluctuations in environmental remediation costs are modelled by considering the cumulative probabilities of cost increases or decreases at each time step. The simulated project value reflects the cumulative activities required for mine closure, where each ton of extracted ore generates an environmental liability demanding remediation. Through the application of this system, the study demonstrates its effectiveness in identifying an escalating probability of project closure over time. Particularly, the findings reveal the existence of a critical threshold date. Beyond this date, any operational suspension exceeding one year renders project closure the economically optimal choice. This closure encompasses all necessary environmental restoration activities. By integrating real options theory into project evaluation, this study offers a more comprehensive approach to assessing the risk of premature project abandonment in mineral extraction projects. Through the consideration of fluctuating environmental remediation costs and the cumulative probabilities of project closure, it provides valuable insights for decision-making in project management and resource allocation. The trigger curve generated allowed for the identification of the viability threshold of the venture. Identifying the threshold to initiate the mining closure project.

Habitat protection and removal of encroaching shrubs support the recovery of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning

AbstractLivestock overgrazing causes environmental degradation, species invasion, biodiversity loss, and productivity decline, with profound consequences for ecological sustainability and human livelihoods. Habitat protection can mitigate such impacts, but we know little about how the long‐term recovery of plant communities from livestock overgrazing depends on the presence of encroaching shrubs. Here, we explored how shrub encroachment mediates the effects of habitat protection (i.e., livestock exclusion and creation of UNESCO protected areas) on biodiversity recovery and ecosystem functioning (i.e., biomass productivity). We leveraged a long‐term (15–25 years) experiment of livestock exclusion and complemented it with the removal of an encroaching shrub species in pasture areas and protected areas. We reveal that habitat protection has positive effects on patterns of recovery. Yet, the effects of habitat protection are mediated by shrub encroachment. Encroaching shrubs have net positive effects on plant diversity in pasture areas but inhibit biodiversity recovery in protected areas. The combination of habitat protection and the removal of encroaching shrubs best enhances the recovery of plant diversity and biomass productivity. A potential underlying mechanism is the shift in plant interactions from facilitation for recruitment and associated resistance to competition for water. Understanding species interactions is key to guiding conservation and restoration actions which can turn degraded ecosystems back into functional, species‐rich communities.

Damage prediction for planted longleaf pine in extreme winds

Severe wind disturbances are forecast to increase in frequency and intensity with climate change putting forest trees at greater risk of wind damage. Of particular concern are mature and old-growth forests of wind-prone regions which host considerable biodiversity. Landscape configuration, stand structure, and tree characteristics affect susceptibility to wind damage. In managed forests and restoration contexts, these factors could be manipulated to enhance resistance to severe wind events. We measured landscape, stand, and tree characteristics, and damage in longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) forests in southwest Georgia and Northwest Florida affected by Hurricane Michael (2018) and used these data to model wind damage. We hypothesized that wind damage would increase with wind exposure and decrease with diameter-to-height ratio (taper). We found that lower wind exposure and higher taper resulted in substantially lower wind damage. We conclude that maintaining lower stand density during stand development could reduce wind damage by increasing individual tree resistance to wind. Management and restoration activities that increase resilience to threats from extreme weather can help maintain persistence and landscape restoration of global biodiversity hotspots in wind-prone regions.

Restoration of Antibacterial Activity of Inactive Antibiotics via Combined Treatment with AgNPs.

Antimicrobial resistance poses a huge threat to human health around the world and calls for novel treatments. Combined formulations of NPs and antibiotics have emerged as a viable nanoplatform for combating bacterial resistance. The present research work was performed to investigate the effect of combined formulations of AgNPs with streptomycin, cefaclor, ciprofloxacin, and trimethoprim against multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae. AgNPs have been synthesized by using the Nigella sativa seed extract, and their characteristics were analyzed. AgNPs depicted concentration-dependent antibacterial effects, as the highest concentration of AgNPs showed the strongest antibacterial activity. Interestingly, AgNPs in conjugation with antibiotics showed an enhanced antibacterial potential against both S. aureus and K. pneumoniae, which suggested synergism between the AgNPs and antibiotics. Against S. aureus, streptomycin and trimethoprim in conjugation with AgNPs presented a synergistic effect, while cefaclor and ciprofloxacin in combination with AgNPs showed an additive effect. However, all of the tested antibiotics depicted a synergistic effect against K. pneumoniae. The lowest value of MIC (0.78 μg/mL) was shown by AgNPs-Stp against S. aureus, whereas AgNPs-Tmp showed the lowest value of MIC (1.56 μg/mL) against K. pneumoniae. The most important point of the present study is that both organisms (S. aureus and K. pneumoniae) showed resistance to antibiotics but turned out to be highly susceptible when the same antibiotic was used in combination with AgNPs. These findings highlight the potential of nanoconjugates (the AgNPs-antibiotic complex) to mitigate the present-day crisis of antibiotic resistance and to combat antimicrobial infections efficiently.

Effects of extreme temperatures and recovery potential of Gongolaria barbata from a coastal lagoon in the northern Adriatic Sea: an ex situ approach.

Globally, rising seawater temperatures contribute to the regression of marine macroalgal forests. Along the Istrian coastline (northern Adriatic), an isolated population of Gongolaria barbata persists in a coastal lagoon, representing one of the last marine macroalgal forests in the region. Our objective was to examine the impact of extreme temperatures on the morphology and physiology of G. barbata and test its potential for recovery after simulating marine heatwave (MHW) conditions. We explored the occurrence of marine heatwaves in southern Istria, adjacent to the study area, in addition to extreme temperatures inside the area itself. Subsequently, we performed a thermotolerance experiment, consisting of a stress and recovery phase, in which we exposed G. barbata thalli to four extreme (28, 30, 32 and 34 °C) and one favourable (18 °C) temperature. We monitored morphological and physiological responses. Our findings indicate a significant rise in frequency, duration and intensity of MHWs over decades on the southern Istrian coast. Experimental results show that G. barbata demonstrates potential for both morphological and physiological recovery after exposure to temperatures as high as 32 °C. However, exposure to 34 °C led to thallus decay, with limited ability to regenerate. Our results show that G. barbata has a remarkable resilience to long-term exposure to extreme temperatures ≤32 °C and suggest that short-term exposure to temperatures beyond this, as currently recorded inside the lagoon, do not notably affect the physiology or morphology of local G. barbata. With more MHWs expected in the future, such an adapted population might represent an important donor suitable for future restoration activities along the Istrian coast. These results emphasize the resilience of this unique population, but also warn of the vulnerability of marine macroalgal forests to rising seawater temperatures in rapidly changing climatic conditions.

Hemiartoplasty of the Hip Joint with a Bipolar Endoprosthesis for Fail Osteosynthesis of the Femoral Neck

Introduction. Hip replacement in the last century was called the most successful operation in orthopedics. Replacement of the destroyed joint tissues with an implant allows to relieve a person from pain, restore motor activity and ensure a long-term improvement in the quality of life without disability. Endoprosthetics is indicated both for diseases of the hip joint, which according to the literature are affected by about 35 % of the adult population, and for fractures of the femoral neck. As a rule, the age of patients undergoing endoprosthetics is older than 60 years.The purpose of this publication is to demonstrate the successful experience of subtotal hip replacement with bipolar endoprosthesis in a patient with an ungrown fracture of the neck of the left hip in conditions of metalosteosynthesis with screws with migration of metal structures and violation of fracture consolidation.Materials and methods. Description of a clinical case and a brief analysis of the literature on this topic. The experience of subtotal endoprosthetics of the left hip joint with a bipolar endoprosthesis is presented. The effectiveness of treatment was evaluated based on the data of X-ray examination methods, as well as when assessing the function of the limb and the amplitude of movement in the hip joint.Results. As a result of hip replacement with a bipolar endoprosthesis, complete restoration of limb function and activity of the patient was achieved.Discussion. The choice of a bipolar endoprosthesis with acetabular roof plasty was due to the need to restore joint function and the desire to maintain a greater potential for revision arthroplasty of the patient, which is very likely given the age. Along with the use of augments and individual implants, the method showed a good result of treatment with less trauma.Conclusion. Based on the given clinical example, it can be concluded that both preoperative planning for femoral neck fractures with risk assessment and expanding the range of metal structures, including the least traumatic for bone tissue, is important, as well as the need to improve continuity in the treatment of patients and individualize the postoperative plan. management, socialization and activation of the patient

Integration of Demethylation-Activated DNAzyme with a Single Quantum Dot Nanosensor for Sensitive Detection of O6-Methylguanine DNA Methyltransferase in Breast Tissues.

O6-Methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) is a demethylation protein that dynamically regulates the O6-methylguanine modification (O6 MeG), and dysregulated MGMT is implicated in various malignant tumors. Herein, we integrate demethylation-activated DNAzyme with a single quantum dot nanosensor to sensitively detect MGMT in breast tissues. The presence of MGMT induces the demethylation of the O6 MeG-caged DNAzyme and the restoration of catalytic activity. The activated DNAzyme then specifically cleaves the ribonucleic acid site of hairpin DNA to expose toehold sequences. The liberated toehold sequence may act as a primer to trigger a cyclic exponential amplification reaction for the generation of enormous signal strands that bind with the Cy5/biotin-labeled probes to form sandwich hybrids. The assembly of sandwich hybrids onto 605QD obtains 605QD-dsDNA-Cy5 nanostructures, inducing efficient FRET between the 605QD donor and Cy5 acceptor. Notably, the introduction of a mismatched base in hairpin DNA can greatly minimize the background and improve the signal-to-noise ratio. This nanosensor achieves a dynamic range of 1.0 × 10-8 to 0.1 ng/μL and a detection limit of 155.78 aM, and it can screen MGMT inhibitors and monitor cellular MGMT activity with single-cell sensitivity. Moreover, it can distinguish the MGMT level in tissues of breast cancer patients and healthy persons, holding great potential in clinical diagnostics and epigenetic research studies.

Evaluating effectiveness of restoration to address current stressors to riverine fish

Abstract River restoration programmes with the goal of conserving and rehabilitating inland fishes have a multi‐decadal history, but evaluation and synthesis of past restoration actions have been limited by a lack of monitoring and reporting. Given that calls for both monitoring and systematic reviews of restoration have increased, we were interested in the influence that restoration has had on improving conditions for riverine fishes resulting from long‐standing and increasingly prominent stressors. Our objectives were to (1) identify which stressors were targeted in river restoration efforts, (2) determine the proportion of published studies that articulate restoration goals and develop comparative monitoring designs for assessing the effects of restoration on fishes, and (3) conduct a meta‐analysis to synthesise fish responses to restoration projects. We assessed restoration effectiveness for increasing fish density and richness from peer‐reviewed papers published over the past decade using a global systematic review and meta‐analysis. We found that restoration actions addressed major stressors primarily by improving in‐stream habitat (37%), increasing in‐stream longitudinal connectivity (26%) and increasing lateral floodplain connections (9%). Although 81% of studies had comparative monitoring designs (i.e., before/after and control/impact) and stated restoration goals, only 40% of those studies reported sufficient data to be included in the meta‐analysis. Projects which increased in‐stream connectivity had the largest positive effect size on fish density and richness compared to in‐stream habitat improvements and increasing floodplain connections. Time since restoration and restoration size (i.e., geographical footprint) were not strong predictors of fish response effect sizes. Restoration effectiveness was highly variable among project types. Authors of studies included in the meta‐analysis often identified spatial or temporal scale of monitoring, overriding catchment conditions, and recolonisation potential as sources of variability and effectiveness in restoration outcomes. Systematic reporting of these and other covariates may help guide processes in restoration evaluation and provide valuable research insights. Despite increased emphasis on monitoring, incomplete data reporting limited the number of studies that could be included for quantitative meta‐analysis. Persistent emphasis on setting specific criteria (e.g., measurable outcomes of fish response) for restoration goals, project monitoring, data reporting, information sharing and collaborative projects is likely to continue to improve understanding of restoration effectiveness transferable to future endeavours. Our results can be used to support river restoration practitioners with evidence‐based information to evaluate the cost–benefit ratio of competing restoration priorities, and inform restoration planning and implementation for riverine fish.