Ecosystem Restoration Flashcards
7 cards from real GAP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Ecosystem Restoration flashcards as text
Which hydrological practice is central to restoring degraded wetlands on agricultural land?
Answer: Re-establishing natural water retention and flooding cycles
Restoring hydrology by blocking drains and re-flooding wetland basins reestablishes the seasonal water cycle that drives wetland ecosystem processes.
What is the purpose of a 'seed bank' assessment before beginning farm restoration?
Answer: To determine what native or invasive propagules are already present in the soil
A soil seed bank assessment reveals native species that may naturally recruit and invasive species that may re-emerge, informing the restoration strategy before planting.
Under GAP practices, how should prescribed fire be used in grassland restoration?
Answer: Applied during dormant season to remove thatch and stimulate native grass growth
Dormant-season prescribed burns remove accumulated thatch and woody encroachment, promoting native warm-season grasses and forbs adapted to periodic fire.
Which outcome indicates that a restored stream corridor has achieved ecological success?
Answer: Macroinvertebrate diversity increases and bank erosion decreases
Macroinvertebrates are bioindicators of water quality; their increased diversity along with reduced bank erosion signals a structurally and biologically healthy stream corridor.
What does 'functional redundancy' mean in a restored farm ecosystem?
Answer: Multiple species performing the same ecological role, buffering against species loss
Functional redundancy ensures that if one species is lost, others performing the same ecological function (such as pollination or seed dispersal) can maintain ecosystem stability.
Which monitoring metric would BEST track progress of a restored native meadow on a GAP farm?
Answer: Percent cover of native versus invasive plant species over time
Tracking native versus invasive plant cover percentages across multiple years provides a direct, repeatable measure of restoration trajectory and success.
How does rotational grazing support ecosystem restoration goals on a GAP-certified farm?
Answer: By allowing vegetation rest periods that promote plant recovery and diversity
Rotational grazing gives paddocks recovery periods between grazing events, allowing native plants to regrow, set seed, and maintain root reserves that support long-term ecosystem health.