Principles of Restoration
Intentional actions taken to repair damaged ecosystems and restore natural processes.
What is Habitat Restoration?
The natural series of curves in the river that were removed during channelization.
What are meanders?
Environmentally responsible travel that supports conservation and local communities.
What is Ecotourism?
In the Pine Ridge State Forest, this activity led to an erosion rate increase of 9 cm/year
What is ATV recreation?
The component of the CER framework where a scientist writes a clear recommendation.
What is the Claim?
The ability of an ecosystem to maintain balance and recover from a disturbance.
What is Ecosystem Stability?
In the 1960s, the river was transformed into this 56-mile man-made structure.
What is a canal?
In the Green Valley case study, this environmental risk increased as visitor numbers rose
What is decreased wildlife nesting success?
The removal of these large organisms in Coral Bay caused a shift in food web balance
What are predatory fish?
This is required after restoration because ecosystem effects may take years to fully develop
What is long-term monitoring?
This practice focuses on reducing environmental harm while still allowing human activity.
What is Mitigation?
The number of acres of wetlands that were drained as an unintended consequence of straightening the river
What are 40,000 acres?
This type of physical structure allows tourists to view wetlands without trampling vegetation.
What are elevated boardwalks?
This unintended result of overfishing predators led to a decline in coral cover.
What is increased algae growth?
A situation where one benefit (like revenue) leads to a negative risk (like habitat damage)
What is a trade-off?
Restoration focuses on repairing damage, whereas this strategy focuses on reducing further harm
What is the difference between Restoration and Mitigation?
This specific water quality measurement improved from 3.5 mg/L to 7.5 mg/L after restoration
What is Dissolved Oxygen?
A strategy where access to sensitive areas is only allowed during non-breeding times
What is a seasonal closure?
A management strategy that sets a specific limit on the amount of fish that can be caught.
What are fishing quotas?
Slower water flow in restored rivers improves water quality through this natural wetland service.
What is filtration?
These are the three primary indicators scientists use to measure restoration success.
What are biodiversity levels, population trends, and water quality indicators?
The primary goal of backfilling the canal was to reconnect the river to this vital area.
What is the floodplain?
The two specific field observations made near high-traffic trails in the Green Valley Reserve.
What are soil compaction and vegetation thinning?
The percentage that forest vegetation coverage dropped by over four years of high trail usage
What is 30%? (90% down to 60%)
The specific trend observed in wading bird populations as wetland area increased in the Kissimmee River
What is a positive correlation? (or: As wetland area increased, bird populations increased)