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Flip to reveal answersDefine in situ conservation.
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All 12 Flashcards — In situ conservation
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Question
Define in situ conservation.
Answer
Protecting a species **within its natural habitat** (e.g. in a nature reserve or national park).
Question
Define ex situ conservation.
Answer
Protecting a species **outside its natural habitat** (e.g. in a zoo, botanic garden or seed bank).
Question
Give two examples of in situ conservation.
Answer
**Nature reserves / national parks** and **wildlife corridors** that connect them.
Question
State the main advantage of in situ conservation.
Answer
The **whole ecosystem** is conserved together, so the species keeps a large population with **high genetic diversity** and behaves naturally.
Question
What is a wildlife corridor?
Answer
A protected strip of habitat that **connects two separate reserves** so animals can move between them.
Question
How does a wildlife corridor help biodiversity?
Answer
It lets animals **move, interbreed and recolonise** between reserves — keeping populations larger and genetically diverse.
Question
Define habitat fragmentation.
Answer
The breaking up of one large habitat into **smaller, separated patches**.
Question
What is the edge effect?
Answer
The **harsher conditions** (wind, light, predators, invasive species) found **near the boundary** of a habitat patch compared with its interior.
Question
Which reserve shape protects the most species, and why?
Answer
A **large, rounded** reserve — it has **more sheltered interior** and **less exposed edge**.
Question
Why is a long, thin reserve poor at protecting species?
Answer
It is **almost all edge**, so harsh edge conditions reach every part and few interior species survive.
Question
Why does in situ conservation keep genetic diversity high?
Answer
The wild population stays **large**, so a wide range of alleles is kept (unlike a small captive group).
Question
Why is in situ often preferred over ex situ?
Answer
It conserves the **whole habitat/ecosystem** and lets the species **behave and evolve naturally**, not just survive in captivity.
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Full study notes for In situ conservation
Topic 1.9 hub
Conservation of biodiversity
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