Journal of Applied Ecology 2005 42 , 208–217 Correspondence: Margaret Palmer, Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742–4454, USA (fax +301 314 9290; e-mail mpalmer@umd.edu). © 2005 British Ecological Society Blackwell Publishing, Ltd.Oxford,UKJPEJournalofAppliedEcology0021-8901BritishEcologicalSociety,200542005422OriginalArticleEcologicalsuccessinriverrestorationM.A.Palmeretal.