AEP Ecological Systems & Biodiversity Flashcards
6 cards from real AEP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 AEP Ecological Systems & Biodiversity flashcards as text
Which federal law requires federal agencies to consult with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service before undertaking projects that may affect listed threatened or endangered species?
Answer: Endangered Species Act Section 7
ESA Section 7 requires federal agencies to consult with USFWS (or NMFS for marine species) to ensure their actions do not jeopardize listed species or adversely modify designated critical habitat.
What is a 'Biological Assessment' (BA) under the Endangered Species Act?
Answer: A document prepared to determine whether a federal action may affect listed species
A Biological Assessment is a document prepared by or for a federal agency to determine whether a proposed federal action may affect listed threatened or endangered species or critical habitat.
In ecology, which term describes a species that has a disproportionately large effect on its ecosystem relative to its abundance?
Answer: Keystone species
A keystone species has a disproportionately large influence on ecosystem structure and function relative to its biomass or abundance, and its removal can cause major ecological cascades.
Which U.S. federal agency administers the Endangered Species Act for terrestrial and freshwater species?
Answer: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) administers the Endangered Species Act for terrestrial and freshwater species, while NMFS covers marine and anadromous species.
What is 'mitigation banking' in the context of wetland and species conservation?
Answer: Pre-approved restoration of wetlands or habitat to offset future project impacts
Mitigation banking involves the restoration, creation, enhancement, or preservation of wetlands or habitat at one location to offset anticipated impacts at another location through the sale of mitigation credits.
Which ecological concept describes the sequence of community changes in an ecosystem following a disturbance until a stable state is reached?
Answer: Ecological succession
Ecological succession is the gradual, directional process by which biological communities change over time following disturbance, progressing from pioneer species toward a climax community.