Forest Management
What is a prescribed burn and what is it used for?
A carefully planned and controlled fire used to remove flammable underbrush.
What is the difference between a pasture and a rangeland?
Pastures are managed and fenced off; Rangelands are not.
Give 1 illegal activity that takes place in some national parks.
poaching, illegal logging, mining
Give the two criteria used to determine hotspots.
loss of 70% of the habitat and at least 1500 species of endemic vascular plants
How does ocean acidification affect pH levels in the oceans?
Causes pH to drop.
How can fire both benefit and threaten forest ecosystems?
Regular small fires can burn underbrush which protects against large fires and they can limit disease, invasive species, stimpulate plant reproduction and release nutrients.
Large crown fires can destroy the forest and kill wildlife.
How does overgrazing impact soil health?
Exposed soil is susceptible to erosion from wind and rain. Non grazing plants can start growing.
What is the major challenge to managing parks in less-developed countries?
limited financial resources
Give 2 approaches to repairing damaged ecosystems.
restoration
rehabilitation
replacement
creation of artificial ecosystems
Give one factor that makes it difficult to protect marine biodiversity.
they do not belong to anyone
damage is not always visible
the idea that the oceans must be too big for humans to impact
What cycle of events typically takes place in the process of tropical deforestation? (6 steps needed)
1. Access roads to open the forest.
2. Large companies come in and remove the big trees.
3. Ranchers can purchase the land.
4. Overgrazing can happen.
5. Crops the planted.
6. Soil is no longer usable.
Why is rangeland grass considered a renewable resource?
As long as roots and base are in place, the leaves will grow back again and again.
What is the buffer zone concept?
Part of a larger reserve that opens a space for sustainable use by people. It surrounds an inner core that is completely protected.
How do issues of poverty impact decisions about protecting ecosystems?
People living in poverty often have no choice but to damage ecosystems to survive.
What impact do rising CO2 levels have on marine organisms whose shells are made of calcium carbonate?
Reduce the amount of carbonate ions, which degrades the shells.
How can consumers help reduce demand for harvested trees? Give 1 example
Answers vary
What is rotational grazing and what are its advantages?
When a rancher moves animals to different areas to graze so the same spot is not grazed for too long.
What is one way Yellowstone's ecosystem changed after grey wolves disappeared from the park?
Herbivore population exploded, plant populations decreased, soil erosion, loss of wildlife
How is ecological restoration related to ecological succession?
Restoration depends on allowing ecological succession to take place.
How does over-exploitation of the oceans illustrate the tragedy of the commons?
Answers will vary
How does poverty contribute to tropical deforestation?
People in poverty make their choices to survive day to day. They do not have the luxury of being concerned with long term environmental consequences.
How can ranchers protect riparian zones?
Rotate grazing areas and fence of riparian or damaged riparian zones, giving them time to grow back and repair.
Why do you think more than 54% of US wilderness areas are in Alaska, only 2.7% of land area in the lower 48 states is protected-most of it being in the west?
Alaska is largely undeveloped; The lower 48 states are more developed and the land in the west that is protected often includes geographic features that make them difficult to develop (mountains, everglades, swamps, geologic features)
What is reconciliation ecology?
When humans adjust their way of life in order to allow for other species to make use of the ecosystems they share with humans,
How do marine reserves benefit fish populations?
give the fish time and protection to reproduce and replenish