Lecture 9- Ex Situ And Insitu Conservation

Question 1

Define in-situ conservation

Answer 1

In situ conservation involves actions taken within the organism natural habitat

Question 2

What is ex-situ conservation?

Answer 2

Actions for conservation taken in captivity

Question 3

Define Argo diversity

Answer 3

Genetic diversity that results from human selection

Question 4

What are the three types of ex-situ conservation efforts

Answer 4

1. Hobbyists
2. Commercial breeders
3. Zoos,aquariums, wildlife parks etc

Question 5

What is hobbyism?

Answer 5

The ex situ conservation of animals for personal NOT COMMERCIAL reasons

Question 6

Give an example of an effective hobbysit collection

Answer 6

A private collection of Spix macaws were purchased by conservation groups from a hobbyists after the species went extinct in the wild. There Is now 110 captive birds ready for reintroduction from this collection

Question 7

Explain how commercial breeding contributes to ex situ conservation

Answer 7

Rare species are accidentally conserved due to their populations being used for commercial gain

Question 8

Give an example of successful commercial breeding in conservation

Answer 8

Siamese crocodiles are critically endangered in the wild but have an population of >1million in Cambodia due to their growth for the leather industry

Question 9

What are the four aims of exsitu conservation?

Answer 9

1. Insurance against extinction
2. Resovoirs for reintroduction
3. Public education
4. Research gains

Question 10

How many IUCN red list species cannot be recovered in situ bit can be exsitu?

Answer 10

64

Question 11

What are the criteria for an effective reservoir for reintroduction in ex situ conservation? (Five)

Answer 11

1. Genetic diversity
2. Assistive reproductive technology can be used on them to breed in captivity
3. There are no genetic defects within the population (that can be passed on)
4. The spread of disease is controlled
5. There is an effective strategy for reintroduction

Question 12

How many people, on average, visits zoos in Europe each year?

Answer 12

40 million

Question 13

What do zoos encourage?

Answer 13

Funding for in situ conservation efforts

Question 14

What are some example research gains from ex situ conservation?

Answer 14

Animal behavoir, endocrinology, vetinary sciene knowledge, environmental education

Question 15

Explain,in relation to the IUCN, why ex situ conservation is important

Answer 15

There are currently 64 countries on the IUCN red list that are classed as extinct in the wild, so their only hope of being recovered in in exsitu efforts- there is no possibility for in situ efforts.

Question 16

How much money did the EAZA raise for in situ conservation efforts in 2020?

Answer 16

3.3 million euros

Question 17

How do you effectively design an ex situ population?

Answer 17

-NO RANDOM SAMPLING as genetic diversity MUST be maintained. To sample, natural genetic diversity must be understood (so all of it is recorded) and this healthy genetic stock MUST be maintained through breeding efforts.

Question 18

What size founder stock is needed to maintain 90% of genetic diversity when designing an ex situ population?

Answer 18

> 20 founder stock animals results in 90% of the populations diversity being conserved

Question 19

What must be prioritised in an ex situ population? (2)

Answer 19

1. Maintenance of healthy genetic stock

2. Ability to survive in the wild, making reintroduction successful

Question 20

What are the four genetic issues that can arise from captive breeding?

Answer 20

1. Inbreeding
2. Loss of genetic diversity
3. Accumulation of mutated alleles/ genes
4. Adaptation to captive conditions, which harm the ability to survive in the wild

Question 21

What are the two main evolutionary/genetic issues associated with captive breeding?

Answer 21

1. Selection pressure

2. hybrids

Question 22

What contains information on every individual of a population?

Answer 22

The gorilla stud handbook

Question 23

What is the gorilla stud handbook used for?

Answer 23

The effective management of populations to avoid genetic defect via looking at their genetic history

Question 24

What behavioural issues result from captivity? (Five)

Answer 24

1. Loss of hurting ability
2. Predator blindness
3. Locomotion defects due to being in an unnatural environment
4. Loss of natural behaviour
5. In printing on humans (which causes conflicts when reintroduced in the wild

Question 25

How are whooping cranes prepared for release?

Answer 25

1. Fake/ ultra lights are used to teach them to migrate properly
2. Human careers dress as birds to prevent importing from occurring

Question 26

What are the five ethical standards for captive animals?

Answer 26

1. No: stress, fear,distress or preventable sickness
2. No: pain, injury,disease, parasites
3. Adequate food+water
4. Natural behaviour (Mating, flying etc)
5. No loneliness/ confinement

Question 27

What four factors are required for an effective release strategy?

Answer 27

1. Adequate habitat
2. Control on prior threats
3. Graduated/vetted release strategy
4. Long-term monitoring to ensure reintroduction success

Question 28

What is the main argument against ex suit conservation (particularly in zoos)

Answer 28

That it is expensive and distracts from in situ conservation efforts

Question 29

What is the taxonomical bias associated with zoos?

Answer 29

Many species within zoos are not threatened but are pretty. Whereas many threatened species are not present, due to their demanding husbandry and”non charismatic” appearance

Question 30

Give an example of taxonomical bias in zoo settings

Answer 30

The Sunda Pangolin is overlooked, whereas the non-endangered Rainbow Lorikeet isn’t

Question 31

Explain the successful commercial breeding of the south China tiger

Answer 31

• classed as critically endangered on the IUCN red list, and though to be extinct in wild
• however