Seed Banks

Question 1

What is a seed bank?

Answer 1

• a facility used to store seeds of various wild plants and crops
• in an effort to maintain biodiversity

Question 2

How do seed banks help to maintain biodiversity?

Answer 2

• by offering protection against loss of species in the wild

Question 3

What factors have negatively affected plant diversity?

Answer 3

• habitat loss
• climate change
• over-exploitation of certain species

Question 4

What is the high-quality seed from the seed banks used to produce plants for?

Answer 4

• the reestablishment of damaged or destroyed habitats and ecosystems
• the reintroduction of newly extinct, endangered or threatened species back into the environment
• production of plant material as a source for research of over-exploited plants

Question 5

Why is it important to store the seeds of both the wild and less productive crop species?

Answer 5

• it ensures that their genetic diversity is not lost
• which could help safeguard future crop plants