Abstract
Unidirectional transport of material is a prominent and unique feature of river ecosystems. The transportation and accompanying ecological processes are well documented by the river continuum concept. River restoration works should pay enough attentions to the ecological processes attributed by longitudinal continuity and riparian/ channel interactions shown in the concept. Other important ecological processes in river ecosystems are transient storage and subsequent release of organic matters and nutrients from up- to down-streams : ecological spiraling. Benthic animal communities, bio-films (algae, microbes and fine particulate sediment) and leaf-litter packs work as effective biological storage apparatuses. Side channels, bank-side pools and hyporheic zones also work as effective geomorphological storage apparatuses. Upstream migration of fishes and aquatic insects populations works as an important recycling or transport of material from marine or downstream to upstream.
