Natural Resource Management Flashcards
6 cards from real CORE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Natural Resource Management flashcards as text
Which landmark law established the requirement for environmental impact analysis before major federal actions in the US?
Answer: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
NEPA, enacted in 1970, requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of proposed actions and consider alternatives before making decisions.
What is an invasive species?
Answer: A non-native species that spreads aggressively and causes ecological or economic harm
An invasive species is a non-native organism introduced to a new environment where it spreads aggressively and causes ecological, economic, or human health damage.
Which federal act specifically protects threatened and endangered species and designates critical habitat for their recovery?
Answer: Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 provides legal protection for species at risk of extinction and requires designation of critical habitat necessary for their recovery.
What does 'adaptive management' mean in natural resource management?
Answer: A flexible approach that adjusts strategies based on monitoring results and new information
Adaptive management is an iterative, science-based process that incorporates monitoring results to evaluate and adjust management strategies, improving outcomes over time.
What distinguishes a keystone species in an ecosystem?
Answer: They have a disproportionately large impact on ecosystem structure relative to their abundance
Keystone species have an outsized ecological influence; their removal causes dramatic changes to ecosystem structure and function far beyond what their numbers alone would suggest.
Which management strategy involves designating areas where natural processes occur with minimal human interference to preserve biodiversity and ecological integrity?
Answer: Wilderness preservation
Wilderness preservation designates areas managed to allow natural processes to continue with minimal human intervention, as formalized in the US by the Wilderness Act of 1964.