AEP Ecological Systems & Biodiversity Flashcards
6 cards from real AEP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 AEP Ecological Systems & Biodiversity flashcards as text
What does 'biological magnification' (also called biomagnification) describe in environmental science?
Answer: The increasing concentration of persistent pollutants at higher trophic levels in a food chain
Biomagnification is the process by which persistent pollutants such as PCBs, DDT, and methylmercury become increasingly concentrated in organisms at higher trophic levels of the food web.
Under NEPA, which document is required for federal actions that significantly affect the quality of the human environment?
Answer: Environmental Impact Statement
An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required under NEPA for major federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment, providing a comprehensive analysis of environmental impacts.
What is the primary goal of a 'habitat conservation plan' (HCP) under ESA Section 10?
Answer: Allow non-federal applicants to obtain incidental take permits while minimizing harm to listed species
A Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) is developed by non-federal entities seeking an incidental take permit under ESA Section 10, describing measures to minimize and mitigate impacts on listed species.
Which term describes the number and variety of species within a defined area, often used as a measure of ecosystem health?
Answer: Species richness
Species richness is the count of distinct species present in a defined area, and it is one of the most straightforward measures of biodiversity used in ecological assessments.
In the context of environmental impact assessment, what does 'cumulative impact' mean?
Answer: The incremental impact of a project when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions
A cumulative impact is the combined environmental effect of a project's impacts added to the impacts of other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions in the same area.
Which ecological guild describes organisms that break down dead organic matter and recycle nutrients in an ecosystem?
Answer: Decomposers
Decomposers, including bacteria and fungi, break down dead organic matter (detritus) and return nutrients to the soil and water, completing biogeochemical cycles.