Captive Breeding and Release

Question 1

Disadvantages of seed banks?

Answer 1

• Some species are unable to use seed banks - like recalcitrant species
• seed gets damaged by storage

Question 2

Problems of captive breeding techniques

Answer 2

• Increased inbreeding risk due to small gene pools

- unable to replicate specific breeding conditions

Question 3

Problems of release

Answer 3

• threat still exists
• habitat lost
• too dependent on humans

Question 4

The need for a stud book?

Answer 4

• identifies suitable mating partners
• prevents inbreeding which reduces the gene pool
• this can lead to genetic problems

Question 5

Positives of seed banks

Answer 5

• takes up less space than growing plants

- maintains genetic diversity for future use

Question 6

Advantages of captive breeding areas (zoos, parks etc.)

Answer 6

• place of safety compared to natural habitat

- generates revenue from visitors which can be used for conservation

Question 7

Why are R-selective species more suitable for captive breeding?

Answer 7

• early maturity
• frequent breeding
• can withstand high mortality rates

Question 8

Methods to increase breeding success

Answer 8

• embryo transfer
• artificial insemination
• cryopreservation
• cloning

Question 9

Methods to increase release success

Answer 9

• pre-release training
• soft release
• providing suitable habitats

Question 10

What do keystone species do?

Answer 10

Their survival is important for the survival of many other species as they maintain ecological structure of communities

• seed dispersal
• provision of food
• creation of structural habitat features