CWD Conservation & Sustainability 3

Question 1

Which landscape-scale approach to conservation prioritizes protecting large, connected areas of wetland habitat rather than isolated patches?

Accepted Answer

Landscape connectivity and corridor planning

Answer

Landscape connectivity planning protects movement corridors between wetland complexes, supporting wildlife populations and ecological resilience at a broader scale.

Question 2

Prairie potholes in the Upper Midwest are especially significant for conservation because they:

Accepted Answer

Support a disproportionately large share of North American waterfowl production relative to their area

Answer

The Prairie Pothole Region produces roughly 50–80% of North American migratory waterfowl despite covering a fraction of the continent's land area.

Question 3

In the context of ecosystem services valuation, which category best describes a wetland's role in removing nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural runoff?

Accepted Answer

Regulating services (water quality improvement)

Answer

Water quality improvement through nutrient uptake and denitrification is classified as a regulating ecosystem service under the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment framework.

Question 4

The 'mitigation hierarchy' for wetland impacts under Corps/EPA guidelines lists which sequence in descending order of preference?

Accepted Answer

Avoidance, minimization, compensatory mitigation

Answer

The mitigation hierarchy requires applicants to first avoid wetland impacts, then minimize unavoidable impacts, and only then compensate for remaining losses.

Question 5

Which term describes the process by which a degraded wetland recovers its ecological functions through natural processes without active human intervention?

Accepted Answer

Passive restoration (natural recovery)

Answer

Passive restoration relies on removing stressors (e.g., drainage tiles, invasive species pressure) and allowing natural hydrological and biological processes to reestablish wetland functions.

(CWD) Certified Wetland Delineator Practice Test

(CWD) Certified Wetland Delineator Practice Test

CWD Conservation & Sustainability 3