Lesson 4 - Ex-situ and in-situ conservation

Question 1

meaning conservation

Answer 1

the maintaining and protecting a living and changing environment

Question 2

meaning ex-situ conservation

Answer 2

the conservation of components of biological diversity (living organisms) outside their natural habitat

Question 3

meaning in-situ conservation

Answer 3

the conservation of ecosystems and natural habitats, and the maintenance and recovery of populations of species in their natural surroundings

Question 4

state the difference between ex-situ and in-situ conservation

Answer 4

ex-situ conservation takes place outside of their natural habitat, whilst in-situ conservation takes place in the natural habitat of the organism

Question 5

give an example of an ex-situ conservation

Answer 5

The United Nations Conservation on Biological Diversity

Question 6

give an example of in-situ conservation

Answer 6

the Millennium Seed Bank in the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew

Question 7

what do seed banks do

Answer 7

they preserve endangered seeds by storing dried seeds with fully developed embryos in jars at low temperatures and low humidity.

Question 8

name some plant species where the seeds do not store well

Answer 8

• mango
• avocado
• cacao
• coconut

Question 9

how are the plant species that cannot be stored in seed banks conserved

Answer 9

they are grown where they are naturally found, in field gene banks. So, the species is gown on, year after year

Question 10

what are some issue about field gene banks

Answer 10

take up a lot of room and need a lot of work

Question 11

how is tissue culture better than field gene banks

Answer 11

takes up a lot less space and time, and allows more variety to be conserved

Question 12

how do zoos conserve species

Answer 12

in captive breeding programmes, individuals of an endangered species are bred to save the species from extinction. When the species is saved, they are reintroduced into protected areas

Question 13

what are 4 issues with captive breeding and reintroduction

Answer 13

• there is not enough or sufficient resources in zoos for all the endangered species
• reintroduction programmes can be very expensive and time-consuming, and they may fail
• it may be difficult to provide the right conditions for breeding
• animals that have been bred in captivity may have problems in adjusting to unsupported life in the wild

Question 14

how is cross-species cloning achieved

Answer 14

the cloning of animals using closely related species as surrogate mothers. Scientists think that cross-species cloning can eventually be used to bring back recently extinct species

Question 15

why are large areas of countryside conserved instead of single species

Answer 15

large areas of countryside include whole habitats or ecosystems. So, protecting these areas, conserves the organisms together within their natural relationships

Question 16

give 4 examples of national parks

Answer 16

• The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Australia
• Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda)
• Kanha National Park (India)
• Everglades (USA)

Question 17

state some strategies that are used as part of in-situ conservation

Answer 17

• habitat restoration and recovery
• strategies for sustainable use and management of biological resources
• managed recovery programmes for endangered species (ex-situ programmes)

Question 18

what are some issues concerning conservation

Answer 18

• it costs a lot of money to maintain and conserve areas, which could be spent on health and education instead
• land needed for conservation may be taken away from locals

Question 19

how can conservation be done sustainably

Answer 19

• instead of illegal logging and ‘slash and burn’ method, could harvest the trees selectively and replant for the future
• in farming, avoid monoculture, use organic fertilisers, biological pest control and planting in rotation to avoid the soil becoming too exhausted