What is In situ Conservation?
In situ Conservation is one of the methods of the conservation of genetic resources in natural populations of plant or animal species. In other words, it is a set of conservation techniques involving the designation, management, and monitoring of biodiversity in the same area where it is encountered.
What is Ex-situ Conservation?
Ex-situ conservation is the relocation of endangered or rare species from their natural habitats to protected areas equipped for their protection and preservation.
Difference between In situ and Ex-situ Conservation
| In situ Conservation | Ex situ Conservation |
| It means the conservation of biodiversity in their natural habitats itself. | It means the conservation of biological diversity outside their natural areas |
| Protected areas are the sanctuaries and national parks. | Artificial conditions are created to make their habitat almost like a natural habitat. |
| It aims to enable biodiversity to maintain itself within the context of the ecosystem. | It involves the maintenance of genetic variation (Genetic Conservation) away from its original location. |
| Establish a protected area network, with appropriate management practices, corridors to link fragments restore degraded habitats within and outside. | Established botanical and zoological gardens, conservation stands; banks of germplasm, pollen, seed, seedling, tissue culture, gene, and DNA, etc. |
| It involves the reduction of biotic pressure rehabilitation | It identifies and rehabilitates threatened species; launched augmentation, reintroduction, or introduction programs. |
| It helps in the multiplication of the species through the process of evolution and adaptation. | This method will enhance the probability of reproductive success for endangered species. |
| It provides greater mobility to the animal species because of the large habitat area. | It provides less mobility to the organism because of the small habitat area. |
| Example- National parks, biosphere reserves, parks, sanctuaries. | Example- Zoo, aquarium, seed banks, botanical gardens, etc. |
What is the protection and conservation of species in their natural habitat called?
a) In-situ conservation
b) Ex-situ conservation
c) Off-site conservation
d) No conservation
Answer: a
Which of the following is an odd one?
a) Zoological parks
b) Biosphere reserves
c) National parks
d) Wildlife sanctuaries
Answer: a
One of the ex situ conservation methods for endangered species is
(a) wildlife sanctuaries
(b) biosphere reserves
(c) cryopreservation
(d) national parks.
Answer C