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All 18 Flashcards — In situ conservation
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Question
Define in situ conservation.
Answer
In situ conservation means protecting species within their natural habitat and conserving the wider ecosystem.
💡 Hint
In habitat.
Question
What is zonation in protected areas?
Answer
Dividing an area into zones (core, buffer, transition) to reduce human impact while allowing limited use where appropriate.
💡 Hint
Core/buffer/transition.
Question
In one sentence, define in situ conservation.
Answer
Protecting species in their natural habitat, conserving ecosystems and interactions.
💡 Hint
Definition line.
Question
Why does in situ conservation support higher genetic diversity?
Answer
Populations are usually larger in the wild, reducing bottlenecks and maintaining variation for adaptation.
💡 Hint
Large populations.
Question
Name two ecosystem processes protected by in situ conservation.
Answer
Pollination and decomposition (also nutrient cycling, predation, seed dispersal).
💡 Hint
Processes list.
Question
How does anti-poaching enforcement reduce biodiversity loss?
Answer
Patrols, monitoring, and penalties reduce illegal killing, increasing survival and reproduction of threatened species.
💡 Hint
Survival ↑.
Question
Why is in situ usually the best long-term conservation option?
Answer
It maintains food webs, ecosystem processes, and natural selection, supporting viable populations over time.
💡 Hint
Ecosystems + processes.
Question
Why is in situ generally preferred long-term?
Answer
It protects whole ecosystems and supports natural processes and adaptation.
💡 Hint
Whole system.
Question
Name three in situ tools.
Answer
Protected areas, habitat restoration, and laws/enforcement (also corridors and sustainable harvesting).
💡 Hint
3 tools.
Question
Why is habitat-based conservation often efficient?
Answer
Protecting a habitat usually protects many species at once, not just a single target species.
💡 Hint
Many species at once.
Question
Give one example of sustainable harvesting.
Answer
Fishing quotas/closed seasons/size limits that prevent overharvesting and allow populations to recover.
💡 Hint
Harvest limits.
Question
Name three in situ methods examiners expect.
Answer
Protected areas, restoration, and corridors (also laws/enforcement).
💡 Hint
3 methods.
Question
Why can community-based conservation improve outcomes?
Answer
If local people benefit, they support protection and reduce illegal use, improving long-term sustainability.
💡 Hint
Benefits → support.
Question
How do wildlife corridors support in situ conservation?
Answer
They enable dispersal and gene flow between populations, reducing isolation and supporting recolonisation.
💡 Hint
Move + mix genes.
Question
Why can climate change reduce in situ effectiveness?
Answer
Conditions may shift faster than species can adapt or migrate, making habitats unsuitable even if protected.
💡 Hint
Habitat shifts.
Question
How does invasive species control support in situ conservation?
Answer
Removing/controlling invasives reduces competition/predation on native species, allowing native populations to recover.
💡 Hint
Reduce invasive pressure.
Question
What is one situation where in situ is difficult?
Answer
When habitat is heavily degraded/fragmented or threats like poaching and invasives cannot be controlled.
💡 Hint
Threats too high.
Question
When is in situ most likely to fail?
Answer
When threats remain high or habitat is too degraded to support viable populations.
💡 Hint
Threats + habitat.
Read the notes
Full study notes for In situ conservation
Topic 3.6 hub
In situ vs ex situ conservation
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