Natural World & Ecology Flashcards

A sustainability professional evaluating a project near a coastal estuary should prioritize which ecological service provided by estuaries?

Answer: Nursery habitat for commercially important fish and protection of coastlines from storm surge

Estuaries provide critical nursery habitat for many marine species and their vegetated shorelines and wetlands buffer coastal communities from storm energy.

Which of the following invasive species management strategies aligns best with Envision's Natural World principles?

Answer: Prioritizing mechanical and targeted removal integrated with native species restoration

Integrated pest management combining targeted removal with native revegetation minimizes collateral ecological damage and delivers lasting control.

What is the primary purpose of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in relation to infrastructure projects and natural systems?

Answer: To systematically identify, predict, and evaluate potential environmental effects before project approval

An EIA evaluates likely significant effects on the natural and human environment during project planning so that decision-makers can weigh alternatives and mitigation options.

The concept of 'ecosystem services' in infrastructure planning encompasses:

Answer: The benefits that functioning natural systems provide to human communities, such as clean water and pollination

Ecosystem services are the direct and indirect contributions of ecosystems to human well-being, including provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting services.

A project minimizes light pollution to protect nocturnal wildlife. Which of the following best explains the ecological basis for this measure?

Answer: Artificial light at night disrupts circadian rhythms, navigation, and predator-prey dynamics for many species

Artificial light at night (ALAN) interferes with biological clocks, disorientation of migratory birds and sea turtles, and alters predator-prey interaction timing.

In the context of the Envision framework, 'net zero ecological impact' means a project:

Answer: Fully offsets any habitat loss or degradation with equivalent ecological restoration elsewhere

Net zero ecological impact under Envision requires that losses in habitat quality or area are compensated by gains of equivalent or greater value, achieving no net loss.

Which factor most strongly determines the resilience of an ecosystem to disturbance events such as drought or pollution?

Answer: Biodiversity, including functional redundancy among species

High biodiversity, especially functional redundancy where multiple species perform similar roles, provides insurance so that the ecosystem continues functioning even if some species are lost.