Observation
Habitat Fragmentation
The breaking up of habitats into smaller, isolated patches.
-name several causes.
Critical Habitat
is a term defined and used in the Endangered Species Act. It is specific geographic areas that contain features essential to the conservation of an endangered or threatened species and that may require special management and protection.
Ecological Monitoring
Systematic tracking of ecosystem changes over time to assess restoration progress.
Carrying Capacity
The maximum population size of a species that an ecosystem can support sustainably.
Soil Stabilization
Preventing erosion through planting vegetation or other means.
Conclusion
A statement that supports or refutes the hypothesis based on evidence.
Invasive Species
Non-native species that spread rapidly and disrupt ecosystem balance.
Recovering degraded land for ecological or human use, often after mining or construction.
Reclamation
A community of organisms and their physical environment interacting as a system.
Ecosystem
Law
A general principle describing a consistent natural phenomenon.
Gathering qualitative or quantitative information for analysis.
Data Collection
Analysis
Interpreting data to determine patterns, relationships, and significance.
How do you find Carrying Capacity of an area?
Measure the density of forage and edible vegetation.
What type of Species does the US Fish and Wildlife Service Manage?
Threatened and Endangered Species
Keystone Species
A species that has a disproportionately large effect on ecosystem structure and function.
Species that naturally occur in a given ecosystem.
Native Species
Ecological Resilience
The capacity of an ecosystem to recover from disturbance or stress.
Adaptive Management
A flexible, iterative approach to ecosystem management based on monitoring and feedback.
Careful noting and recording of natural phenomena using the senses or instruments.
Observation
The scientific study and practice of restoring ecosystems.
Restoration Ecology
Hypothesis
A testable explanation or prediction based on prior knowledge and observation.
Ecological Integrity
The ability of an ecosystem to support and maintain ecological processes and organisms.
Experiment
A structured procedure to test a hypothesis under controlled conditions.
Replication / Iterate
Repeating an experiment to ensure accuracy and reliability of results.
Theory
A well-supported explanation of natural phenomena, based on repeated testing.
Biodiversity
The variety of life forms within an ecosystem, important for stability and resilience.
Replanting trees in an area where forest cover has been removed or degraded.
Reforestation
Habitat Restoration
The process of returning a degraded ecosystem to a healthy, functioning state.
The natural process by which ecosystems change and develop over time.
Succession
Conservation Biology
The scientific study of protecting and restoring biodiversity.