Seedbanks

Question 1

Whats the aim of millennium seed bank?

Answer 1

Aim is to conserve seed samples from threatened species of plants

Question 2

Why doesn’t collecting small samples affect the population?

Answer 2

Most plants produce large numbers of seeds

Question 3

What are the properties of seeds?

Answer 3

Small and easy to store

can survive in desiccated state for many years

Question 4

What happens with 1% and 5% reduction in moisture content

Answer 4

Life span doubles

Question 5

What happens once identified?

Answer 5

Cleaned and dried then stored -20 C

Question 6

What happens after a moth

Answer 6

Sample is taken and made to germinate on afar plants

Question 7

What is seed collection also used for?

Answer 7

research, habitat restoration and species reintroduction

Question 8

What happens if germination falls below 75%?

Answer 8

Will be grown to collect a new sample to be stored

Question 9

What are the advantages?

Answer 9

Cheaper, larger numbers can be stored
Less labour
Stored anywhere
Less likely to be damaged by disease

Question 10

What are the disadvantages?

Answer 10

Expensive and time consuming for testing viability
Storage is expensive
Difficult to collect the seeds