Scientists Interested in Knowing the Best Way to Restore an Area

question 42

Multiple Choice

Scientists interested in knowing the best way to restore an area after a temporary road was built through it completed a study comparing two treatments: (1) restoring the contour of an area so that there was no longer a depression or cut-through where the road was previously and (2) simply abandoning the area to allow vegetation to return on its own. They wanted to know whether either or both of these treatments would return the aboveground vegetation and the belowground soil properties to their original state, as seen in a similar area where there had never been a road.
-The researchers concluded, "These findings support the prediction that recontouring accelerates the rehabilitation of key ecohydrologica properties toward reference dynamics." What does this mean?

• A) Recontouring makes the vegetation in the area grow out of control.
• B) Recontouring allows the water properties of the system to return to normal faster.
• C) Abandonment is the better treatment for restoration.
• D) Their original prediction that recontouring would produce greater plant diversity was supported.

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Definitions:

Eudicots

One of the two major groups of flowering plants, characterized by having two cotyledons (seed leaves), net-veined leaves, and flower parts usually in multiples of four or five.

Monocots

A group of flowering plants (angiosperms) that have a single embryonic leaf, or cotyledon, in their seeds.

Blade

The broad, flat part of a leaf or similar structure, specialized for photosynthesis in most plants.

Sessile

Describes organisms or parts thereof that are attached directly at the base and are not freely moving.