GAP Ecosystem Restoration 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which practice best supports soil biological activity during ecosystem restoration on a farm?
- Applying synthetic pesticides broadly
- Incorporating compost and organic matter (Correct answer)
- Deep tillage to break compaction
- Installing concrete drainage channels
Correct answer: Incorporating compost and organic matter
Adding compost and organic matter feeds soil microorganisms, which are essential drivers of healthy soil biology and long-term restoration success.
Question 2: What is the primary ecological function of riparian buffer strips in agricultural restoration?
- Increase crop yield near water
- Filter runoff and stabilize stream banks (Correct answer)
- Provide equipment access to waterways
- Reduce water table depth
Correct answer: Filter runoff and stabilize stream banks
Riparian buffers intercept nutrient-laden runoff and their root systems hold streambanks, protecting water quality and aquatic habitat.
Question 3: Under GAP guidelines, which action would MOST degrade a restored wetland on a farm?
- Installing water control structures
- Planting native sedges and rushes
- Draining the wetland for additional crop acreage (Correct answer)
- Monitoring water levels seasonally
Correct answer: Draining the wetland for additional crop acreage
Draining a restored wetland eliminates the hydrologic conditions necessary for wetland ecosystem function, directly reversing restoration efforts.
Question 4: Which cover crop mixture best supports pollinator habitat restoration alongside GAP farming?
- Single-species annual rye only
- Monoculture corn as a nurse crop
- Diverse blend of buckwheat, clover, and phacelia (Correct answer)
- Bare fallow with irrigation
Correct answer: Diverse blend of buckwheat, clover, and phacelia
A diverse flowering cover crop blend provides continuous bloom periods, pollen variety, and nesting resources that support pollinator populations.
Question 5: How does reducing farm chemical inputs contribute to ecosystem restoration?
- It eliminates beneficial predatory insects
- It decreases soil organic matter
- It reduces toxin accumulation in food webs (Correct answer)
- It increases soil compaction
Correct answer: It reduces toxin accumulation in food webs
Lowering pesticide and synthetic fertilizer use reduces bioaccumulation of harmful substances through the food chain, benefiting wildlife and soil communities.
Question 6: What is 'succession' in the context of ecological restoration on agricultural land?
- Rotating crop varieties each season
- The natural process of plant community development over time (Correct answer)
- Succession of farm ownership
- A pest management rotation schedule
Correct answer: The natural process of plant community development over time
Ecological succession describes the predictable sequence of plant and animal communities that establish and replace each other as a disturbed site recovers.
Question 7: Which invasive species management strategy aligns with GAP ecosystem restoration principles?
- Ignore invasives to let nature self-correct
- Apply broad-spectrum herbicide to all fields regardless of invasive presence
- Prioritize removal of invasives followed by immediate native planting (Correct answer)
- Till invasive-infested areas and leave bare
Correct answer: Prioritize removal of invasives followed by immediate native planting
Removing invasive species and quickly establishing native plants prevents reinvasion and accelerates recovery of ecological function.
GAP Ecosystem Restoration 2
Which practice best supports soil biological activity during ecosystem restoration on a farm?