Ex situ

Question 1

What is conservation ex situ?

Answer 1

Conservation outside the species normal habitat

Question 2

What are botanical gardens used for?

Answer 2

In these plants are grown and protected from their surroundings, and can increase the number of the plants quickly, using tissue cultures and then planting them in the wild after enough are grown

Question 3

What are seed banks used for?

Answer 3

These are collections of seed samples from varied species, even ones that are endangered or rare. These can be stored or used in providing food crops for rural communities and repopulating an endangered species.

Question 4

How are seeds stored?

Answer 4

Seeds are stored in frozen or dried conditions. Seeds are resistant to desiccation, so the level of moisture in each seed has an effect on storage. For every 1% decrease in moisture the seeds lifespan doubles. They are checked every so often to make sure they are germinated.

Question 5

What are wildlife parks used for?

Answer 5

They help in breeding animals in captivity and researching them to benefit endangered species

Question 6

What is IVF used for?

Answer 6

It preserves genetic material and allows for more genetic diversity and keeping the genetic material if needed.

Question 7

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Answer 7

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Question 8

What are the advantages of ex situ conservation with the population?

Answer 8

Individuals health can be monitored and given medical help if needed
Populations can be divided so that if something happens to one the others survive

Question 9

What are the advantages of ex situ conservation to do with genetic diversity?

Answer 9

• Genetic diversity can be monitored

- Selective breeding can increase genetic diversity

Question 10

What are the advantages of ex situ conservation to do with reproduction?

Answer 10

• IVF, artificial insemination or embryo transfer can increase fertilisation success rate
• Endangered animals can breed easily

Question 11

What are the advantages of ex situ conservation to do with environment?

Answer 11

Organisms are protected from poachers and predators

Question 12

What are the advantages of ex situ conservation for humans?

Answer 12

• Research into physiological, lifestyle and ecology of endangered species is easier
• Conservation sites can be used to raise money for more conservation efforts
• Can be educational

Question 13

What are the disadvantages of ex situ conservation with genetic diversity?

Answer 13

Limited genetic diversity

Question 14

What are the disadvantages of ex situ conservation with reintroduction into the wild?

Answer 14

• Reintroduction into the wild is hard, in getting the animals to deal with predators and finding food
• May not be accepted by their wild counterparts

Question 15

What are the disadvantages of ex situ conservation with their health?

Answer 15

Can be exposed to a range of different diseases

Nutritional issues hard to manage

Question 16

What are the disadvantages of ex situ conservation with their habitat?

Answer 16

• Organism is outside of its local habitat

- Recreating the environment is expensive and difficult

Question 17

What are the disadvantages of ex situ conservation with their behaviour?

Answer 17

Behaviour may not be normal, reproduction may be difficult