CEP Ecosystem Restoration 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which metric is most commonly used to quantify the success of a wetland mitigation bank in the United States?
- Wetland Rapid Assessment Procedure (WRAP) score
- Hydrogeomorphic (HGM) functional assessment units (Correct answer)
- Wetland credit equivalency expressed in acres
- Soil organic matter percentage relative to reference
Correct 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.
Question 2: A restoration ecologist encounters a site dominated by tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus). What management approach is typically recommended before native seeding?
- Broadcast seeding native grasses directly into the fescue sod
- Apply glyphosate in late summer when fescue is actively growing, then till (Correct answer)
- Install biochar amendments to suppress fescue allelopathy
- Conduct prescribed burns without prior herbicide treatment
Correct 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.
Question 3: The concept of 'assisted migration' in the context of climate-adaptive restoration refers to:
- Moving individuals or propagules of native species to new locations to track suitable climate space (Correct answer)
- Helping wildlife cross barriers using underpasses and wildlife bridges
- Translocating endangered species to captive breeding facilities
- Creating migration corridors between fragmented habitat patches
Correct 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.
Question 4: Which soil amendment is most effective for reducing phytotoxic heavy metal availability in contaminated restoration sites?
- Lime (calcium carbonate) to raise soil pH (Correct answer)
- Sulfur to lower soil pH
- Compost to increase organic nitrogen
- Sand to improve drainage and aeration
Correct 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.
Question 5: 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?
- Absence of threats
- Resilience to normal disturbance regimes
- Viability of populations of characteristic species
- Certification by a state environmental agency (Correct answer)
Correct 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.
Question 6: What is the primary ecological rationale for reintroducing keystone predators (e.g., wolves) in ecosystem restoration?
- To directly reduce populations of invasive plant species
- To trigger trophic cascades that restructure vegetation and nutrient cycling (Correct answer)
- To fulfill Endangered Species Act recovery plan requirements
- To increase ecotourism revenue that funds restoration programs
Correct 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.
Question 7: Which term describes the use of native plant species that provide multiple ecosystem functions (wildlife habitat, erosion control, water quality) in a restoration design?
- Monotypic planting
- Functional guild diversification (Correct answer)
- Monoculture establishment
- Allelopathic suppression planting
Correct answer: Functional guild diversification
Functional guild diversification involves selecting species from multiple functional groups to maximize ecosystem services delivered by the restored plant community.
CEP Ecosystem Restoration 3
Which metric is most commonly used to quantify the success of a wetland mitigation bank in the United States?