Ecosystem Restoration Flashcards

Which metric is most commonly used to quantify the success of a wetland mitigation bank in the United States?

Answer: Hydrogeomorphic (HGM) functional assessment units

HGM-based functional assessments generate credits by measuring wetland functions relative to reference standards, which is the standard approach for mitigation banking under Corps of Engineers guidelines.

A restoration ecologist encounters a site dominated by tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus). What management approach is typically recommended before native seeding?

Answer: Apply glyphosate in late summer when fescue is actively growing, then till

Tall fescue is best controlled with glyphosate applied during its active fall growth period, followed by tillage or repeated treatments, before native seed establishment.

The concept of 'assisted migration' in the context of climate-adaptive restoration refers to:

Answer: Moving individuals or propagules of native species to new locations to track suitable climate space

Assisted migration (or assisted colonization) involves intentionally moving species or genotypes to locations where they will be better suited under future climate conditions.

Which soil amendment is most effective for reducing phytotoxic heavy metal availability in contaminated restoration sites?

Answer: Lime (calcium carbonate) to raise soil pH

Raising soil pH with lime reduces the solubility and plant uptake of many heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Zn) by promoting precipitation and adsorption to soil particles.

In the context of the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) framework, which of the following is NOT one of the 'five-star' recovery attributes for a restored ecosystem?

Answer: Certification by a state environmental agency

SER's recovery wheel evaluates biodiversity, physical conditions, functional processes, external exchanges, and absence of threats — agency certification is not an ecological attribute.

What is the primary ecological rationale for reintroducing keystone predators (e.g., wolves) in ecosystem restoration?

Answer: To trigger trophic cascades that restructure vegetation and nutrient cycling

Keystone predators initiate top-down trophic cascades by controlling herbivore behavior and density, which allows vegetation recovery and alters nutrient flows throughout the ecosystem.

Which term describes the use of native plant species that provide multiple ecosystem functions (wildlife habitat, erosion control, water quality) in a restoration design?

Answer: Functional guild diversification

Functional guild diversification involves selecting species from multiple functional groups to maximize ecosystem services delivered by the restored plant community.