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Natural floodplains are complex systems embodying an interwoven network of biodiverse aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Many floodplains have been impaired and disconnected from the river, leading to declines in biodiversity. River restorations often affect floodplains, yet monitoring programs rarely investigate effects on floodplain organisms. This study examined a river restoration project, which improved river hydromorpholgy and partly reconnected the adjacent floodplain. We applied a ‘control–impact’ design to investigate changes in floodplain community composition and diversity four, six, eight, and ten years after the restoration of the Nidda River in central Germany. Investigated taxonomic groups included ground beetles, birds, dragonflies, and spiders. We examined trends of abundance, richness, Shannon diversity, Shannon evenness, and temporal turnover over time post-restoration by comparing …