Exsitu and insitu conservation Flashcards
EX-SITU (away from natural habitat)
Captive breeding programmes in which endangered species are carefully bred to increase genetic diversity and population size. Genetic diversity is maintained via the exchange of organisms and gametes, keeping stud books, preventing inbreeding and use of techniques such as IVF.
● Reintroduction programmes aim to release animals bred in captivity into their natural habitat as well as to restore lost habitats.
● Seed banks store a large number of seeds in order to conserve genetic diversity and prevent plant species from going extinct. Storing seeds instead of plants means that a large variety of species can be conserved, and it is cheaper than storing whole plants as it takes up less space. The seeds are stored in cool, dry conditions as this maximises the amount of time they can be stored for and they are periodically tested for viability.
INSITU (keeping animals in natural habitat)
Education programmes which aim to educate people about the importance of maintaining biodiversity, captive breeding programmes as well as illegal trade of animal products. ● Initiatives such as National Parks and Sites of Specific Scientific Interest aim to conserve habitats and biodiversity.
