Ecosystem Restoration Flashcards
7 cards from real SAF 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
What is the purpose of a 'reference ecosystem' in restoration planning?
Answer: An undisturbed or minimally disturbed site that represents the restoration target condition
A reference ecosystem provides a measurable benchmark of structure, composition, and function toward which restoration efforts are directed.
Which approach to invasive species management in restoration is considered MOST sustainable long-term?
Answer: Biological control using co-evolved natural enemies
Biological control using natural enemies can provide self-sustaining, long-term suppression of invasive populations with minimal ongoing inputs once established.
In restoration ecology, 'passive restoration' relies primarily on:
Answer: Removing stressors and allowing natural recovery processes to proceed
Passive restoration removes the disturbance factors (e.g., overgrazing, altered hydrology) and allows the ecosystem's inherent recovery capacity to drive re-assembly.
A forester is restoring a mixed-conifer forest after a high-severity wildfire. Which initial action would BEST accelerate forest recovery?
Answer: Emergency erosion control followed by planting native conifers in areas lacking seed sources
Emergency erosion control protects soil resources while targeted planting addresses seed source gaps; standing dead trees provide wildlife habitat and should not be indiscriminately removed.
What does 'assisted migration' mean in the context of climate-adaptive forest restoration?
Answer: Deliberately moving species or seed sources to locations where climate is expected to become suitable
Assisted migration moves species or genotypes ahead of climate shifts to locations where future conditions will match their tolerances, increasing long-term adaptive capacity.
Which landscape-scale factor is MOST critical to address when designing wildlife corridors within a forest restoration project?
Answer: Connectivity between source populations across a matrix of non-habitat
Effective corridors must physically and functionally connect isolated source populations, enabling gene flow and recolonization across otherwise inhospitable landscapes.
The Society of American Foresters' Code of Ethics requires that restoration practitioners:
Answer: Uphold scientific accuracy and protect the public interest in forest resources
The SAF Code of Ethics obligates members to maintain scientific integrity, serve the public interest, and manage forest resources sustainably for current and future generations.