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Despite the large number of river restoration projects carried out worldwide, evidence for strong and long-term positive ecological effects of hydromorphological restoration on macroinvertebrates is scarce. To improve the understanding of the success and failure of restoration measures, a standardized field study was carried out in nineteen paired restored and degraded river sections in mid-sized lowland and mountain rivers throughout Europe. We investigated if there were effects of restoration on macroinvertebrate biodiversity, and if these effects could be related to changes in microhabitat composition, diversity and patchiness. Effects were quantified for all taxa combined, as well as Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera separately. Additionally, species trait classifications of microhabitat preference types were used as a functional indicator. Restoration had no overall positive effects on the selected …