Ex situ conservation

Question 1

What is the definition of in situ conservation?

Answer 1

In situ conservation means that the conservation activities occur where the species naturally occurs in the wild.

Question 2

What is the definition of ex situ conservation?

Answer 2

Ex situ conservation means that actions are taking place that involve removing the species from its natural setting.

Question 3

When is ex situ conservation usually used?

Answer 3

Ex situ conservation is usually used as a last resort, when a population has become so small or so endangered that extinction is considered inevitable without extreme intervention. For example, the California condor was reintroduced through ex situ conservation.

Question 4

Why is ex situ conservation sometimes the only choice?

Answer 4

Sometimes ex situ conservation is the only choice because a species no longer exists in the wild. For example, some of the plants that are discussed in the study guide are only preserved through ex situ conservation.

Question 5

Can you provide an example of a species that has been reintroduced through ex situ conservation?

Answer 5

The California condor is an example of a species that has been reintroduced through ex situ conservation.

Question 6

Can you provide an example of a plant species that only exists through ex situ conservation?

Answer 6

One example of a plant is the majestic palm which only exists outside its natural habitat. Very common houseplant.

Question 7

What is ex situ conservation?

Answer 7

Ex situ conservation refers to the conservation of biodiversity outside of its natural habitat, often involving captive breeding and management of species in facilities such as zoos, botanical gardens, or seed banks.

Question 8

Where does ex situ conservation occur?

Answer 8

Ex situ conservation can occur in facilities such as zoos, botanical gardens, or seed banks.

Question 9

What are the major functions of zoos in conservation?

Answer 9

The major functions of zoos in conservation include:

Ex situ conservation of endangered species through captive breeding programs.
Research on the biology, behavior, and ecology of animals in captivity.
Public education and awareness about conservation issues.
Conservation advocacy and fundraising for conservation efforts.

Question 10

How do zoos carry out captive breeding programs?

Answer 10

Zoos carry out captive breeding programs by carefully selecting breeding pairs based on genetic diversity, compatibility, and overall health. They also monitor the animals’ health, nutrition, and behavior to ensure optimal breeding conditions.

Question 11

What are some techniques used in captive breeding programs?

Answer 11

Techniques used in captive breeding programs include artificial insemination, embryo transfer, cross-fostering, double-clutching, cryogenics, and cloning.

Question 12

What is cross-fostering and double-clutching?

Answer 12

Cross-fostering involves placing eggs or young from one pair of parents into the care of another pair of parents. Double-clutching involves inducing breeding pairs to lay two clutches of eggs in one breeding season.

Question 13

What is artificial insemination and how is it useful in captive breeding programs?

Answer 13

Artificial insemination involves manually collecting sperm from a male and depositing it into a female’s reproductive tract. It is useful in captive breeding programs when natural breeding is not possible or to maximize genetic diversity.

Question 14

How can embryo transfer to surrogate mothers be used in captive breeding programs?

Answer 14

Embryo transfer involves removing fertilized embryos from a female and implanting them into the reproductive tract of a surrogate mother. It is useful in captive breeding programs when females are unable to carry a pregnancy to term.

Question 15

What is cryogenics and how can it be used in captive breeding programs?

Answer 15

Cryogenics involves freezing and storing reproductive cells, such as sperm or embryos, for future use in breeding programs.

Question 16

What is cloning and can it be used in conservation efforts?

Answer 16

Cloning involves creating an identical copy of an individual. While it has been successfully used to produce offspring in some species, it is controversial and has limited applications in conservation efforts.

Question 17

What are pedigrees and studbooks, and how are they used in captive breeding programs?

Answer 17

Pedigrees and studbooks are records of the genetic background and reproductive history of animals in captive breeding programs. They are used to manage breeding pairs and minimize inbreeding.

Question 18

How can moving animals around help reduce inbreeding in zoo populations?

Answer 18

Moving animals between zoos and other facilities can help reduce inbreeding in zoo populations by increasing genetic diversity.

Question 19

What is an example of a species that has been used to develop and experiment with many of the captive breeding techniques described?

Answer 19

The cheetah is an example of a species that has been used to develop and experiment with many of the captive breeding techniques described.

Question 20

What is an example of a species that requires human intervention in captive breeding programs, and why?

Answer 20

The giant panda is an example of a species that requires human intervention in captive breeding programs due to low reproductive rates and habitat loss.

Question 21

Why do some species not survive or breed well in captivity?

Answer 21

Some species do not survive or breed well in captivity due to their specific needs not being met, such as diet, habitat, social interactions, and environmental cues, which can lead to stress, disease, and reproductive failure.

Question 22

How do different facilities vary in their commitment to captive breeding programs?

Answer 22

Different facilities vary greatly in their commitment to captive breeding programs, with some places making it a major part of their mission and devoting considerable resources, while others may lack the necessary resources or commitment.

Question 23

Why is there relatively little research on how captivity affects particular species?

Answer 23

There is relatively little research on how captivity affects particular species because of the complexity and diversity of species’ needs, limited funding, ethical considerations, and difficulty replicating natural environments.

Question 24

What is the relationship between home range size and captivity for some species?

Answer 24

Studies have shown that species with large home ranges in nature tend to do worse in captivity, experiencing higher infant mortality and exhibiting stress-related behaviors like constant pacing, which can provide ideas for improving the zoo environment for susceptible species.

Question 25

What are botanical gardens and arboretums, and how do they contribute to plant conservation?

Answer 25

Botanical gardens and arboretums are locations where many plants can be kept in captivity, contributing to plant conservation through research, education, and ex situ conservation of rare and endangered species.

Question 26

How many plant species are grown in botanical gardens worldwide?

Answer 26

Worldwide, about 80,000 plant species are grown in botanical gardens, which is about 30% of the world’s plants, with Kew Gardens alone having about 25,000 species, 10% of which are globally threatened.

Question 27

Why is it easier to maintain plants in captivity than animals?

Answer 27

It is easier to maintain plants in captivity than animals because they do not require much space, do not move, have similar growing conditions, and lack the complex behaviors of many animals.

Question 28

What are seed banks, and how do they contribute to plant conservation?

Answer 28

Seed banks are places where seeds, pollen, tissue cultures, etc. can be stored over the long term, providing a backup in case species disappear in the wild and contributing to plant conservation by preserving genetic diversity and supporting reintroduction and restoration efforts.

Question 29

How long can seeds be preserved in seed banks?

Answer 29

Seeds can be preserved in seed banks for many years, even decades, by keeping them in cold, dark conditions that slow down metabolism and prevent germination.

Question 30

What is the goal of some seed banks in terms of geographic representation?

Answer 30

The goal of some seed banks is to obtain not only a high representation of the world’s plants but also good geographic (and therefore genetic) representation for each species.

Question 31

What are some disadvantages of seed banks?

Answer 31

Some disadvantages of seed banks include the need to periodically germinate seeds to produce new plants, vulnerability to power supply disruptions, and some seeds not surviving in storage.

Question 32

Can seed banks work as a repository for all species?

Answer 32

Seed banks cannot work as a repository for all species since some seeds do not survive in storage, and some species require complex environmental cues or are difficult to propagate.

Question 33

What are the problems associated with captive breeding programs?

Answer 33

Captive breeding programs can be associated with a range of problems, including reduced genetic diversity, inbreeding depression, behavioral problems, and decreased survival rates in the wild.

Question 34

How efficient are captive breeding programs?

Answer 34

The efficiency of captive breeding programs can vary depending on the species and the goals of the program. In some cases, they have been successful in saving endangered species from extinction, while in other cases, the programs have had limited success in reintroducing animals into the wild.

Question 35

What is the capacity of captive settings to maintain populations?

Answer 35

The capacity of captive settings to maintain populations can also vary depending on the species and the resources available. Some animals may thrive in captivity and reproduce well, while others may struggle to survive and reproduce.

Question 36

Why is genetic diversity a concern in captive settings?

Answer 36

Genetic diversity is a concern in captive settings because reduced genetic diversity can lead to inbreeding depression and decreased fitness in offspring.

Question 37

What is the consequence of selecting individuals that do well in captivity?

Answer 37

Selecting individuals that do well in captivity can result in the loss of genetic diversity and the breeding of animals that are not well-suited to survival in the wild.

Question 38

What are some concerns with regard to the behavior of captive-bred animals?

Answer 38

Concerns with regard to the behavior of captive-bred animals include reduced survival skills, lack of fear of predators, and reduced ability to find food and shelter.

Question 39

What are some logistical concerns with captive breeding programs?

Answer 39

Logistical concerns with captive breeding programs include the cost of maintaining animals in captivity, the difficulty of replicating natural environments, and the challenge of reintroducing animals into the wild.

Question 40

Does ex-situ conservation work?

Answer 40

Ex-situ conservation can be effective in saving endangered species from extinction, but its success depends on various factors such as the species, the goals of the program, and the resources available.

Question 41

What is the Mauritius kestrel, and how did ex-situ conservation help it?

Answer 41

The Mauritius kestrel is a bird species that was once on the brink of extinction but was saved by ex-situ conservation efforts, including captive breeding programs and reintroduction into the wild.

Question 42

What are the three types of release programs?

Answer 42

The three types of release programs are reintroduction, augmentation, and introduction.

Question 43

What is a reintroduction release program?

Answer 43

A reintroduction release program is designed to establish a self-sustaining population of a species in its historic range where it has been extirpated.

Question 44

What is an augmentation release program?

Answer 44

An augmentation release program is designed to supplement an existing population with new individuals to increase the population’s genetic diversity or numbers.

Question 45

What is an introduction release program, and why might it be desirable?

Answer 45

An introduction release program is designed to establish a population of a species in an area where it did not previously exist, but where the habitat is suitable.

Question 46

What factors make a release program work?

Answer 46

Factors that make a release program work include the availability of suitable habitat, the genetic diversity of the population, the age and size of the released animals, and the level of human disturbance in the area.

Question 47

What is a “soft” release?

Answer 47

A “soft” release is a type of release program in which animals are gradually acclimated to the wild before being fully released. This can involve providing food and shelter for the animals until they are ready to fend for themselves.