Chapter 13 Flashcards
Define Restoration Ecology. Is restoration to the original state possible?
Ecological restoration - to reverse degradation and restore native ecosystem . Restoration to an
original pristine condition is rarely possible. Often it involves compromise between ideal goals
and pragmatic achievable goals.
What are the differences among Rehabilitation, reintroduction, remediation, reclamation, and
mitigation?
Rehabilitation - repairing ecosystem function, but not to original condition (may be similar to
the original community or an entirely different community).
Reintroduction - transplanting organisms from an external source to a site where they have
been previously reduced/eliminated.
Remediation - using chemical, physical, or biological methods to remove pollution while causing
as little disruption as possible.
Reclamation - employs stronger, more extreme techniques to clean up severe pollution or
create a newly functioning ecosystem on a seriously degraded or barren site.
Mitigation - compensation for destroying a site by purchasing or creating one of more or less
equal ecological value somewhere else.
Restoration project posses 5 common elements. What are they?
- Removing physical stressors (i.e., the cause of degradation)
- Controlling invasive species
- Replanting.
- Captive breeding and reestablishing fauna.
- Monitoring
It is said that nature is resilient. What happened to forests in 1840 in Vermont, and what was the
outcome?
By 1840, early settlers had cleared the land and sheep farming dominated. Only 20% of forest
remained.
Today 80% of the land is forested. Much of the forest resembles old growth forest and moose,
bear, pine martens, and bobcats have become re-established.
What are the pros and cons of reforesting by logging companies?
Pros: Logging companies reforest cut areas. But does provide ground cover, habitat for some species, and lumber
Cons: Creates a monoculture that does not have the complexity of natural forest
How do trees improve the quality of life?
Trees improve air quality and provide shade for cooling. Trees provide wildlife habitat
Does fire help forest and prairie restoration? If so how?
Land managers now recognize fire as a key factor in maintaining/restoring many forest types.
Can also allow natural fires to burn
What does NARI stand for, and how is it measured?
NARI: stands for Natural Area Rating Index and it measures the frequency of native species
associated with a high quality community.
How were the Great Plains prairie, its Eastern and Western edges were maintained?
These prairies were maintained by grazing and by fires
What effort has the American Prairie Foundation has been making to bring back the shortgrass
prairie?
It is buying land, pulling out fences, eliminating buildings and returning the land to wilderness.
Plans to restore elk, bison, wolves, and grizzly bears.
What ecological services do wetlands and streams provide?
Wetlands and streams provide ecological services: 1.Hydrologic cycle. 2. Food and habitat for
a variety of species. 3. Coastal wetlands absorb storm surge
Wetlands occupy _________% of land, but _________ of endangered species spend part of
their life cycle there.
- Less than 5%
2. 1/3
What was the purpose of Clear Water Act of 1972?
To protecting streams and wetlands from pollution discharge.
What was the purpose of Farm Bill of 1985?
The bill blocked agricultural subsidies to farmers who damaged wetlands
44% of streams suffer degradation mostly due to ________, and __________
Sedimentation
Excess Nutrients
