Unit 3: Biodiversity, Conservation and Change

Topic 3.6: In Situ vs Ex Situ Conservation Questions

Practice 20 exam-style questions for IB ESS Topic 3.6. Review the question stems below, then unlock the full Question Bank to access markschemes, model answers, and AI grading.

1state1 mark
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State one example of ex situ conservation.
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2identify2 marks
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A critically endangered bird has fewer than 30 individuals left. The wetland it depends on is polluted and nesting sites are being destroyed. Identify the most appropriate immediate strategy.
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3identify1 mark
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Identify whether creating a protected area is an in situ or ex situ conservation strategy.
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4identify1 mark
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A critically endangered frog is kept in a laboratory where eggs are raised and tadpoles are grown to adulthood for later release. Identify the conservation strategy being used.
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5define4 marks
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Define in situ conservation and ex situ conservation.
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6define2 marks
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Define the term ex situ conservation.
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7outline2 marks
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A population of sea turtles is declining due to egg harvesting and plastic pollution. Outline two actions that would reduce threats in the wild before any reintroduction is attempted.
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8suggest3 marks
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A captive breeding programme produces 40 young animals per year, but the original forest habitat is still being cleared for farming. Suggest why releasing the animals now would be ineffective.
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9explain4 marks
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A conservation plan lists four steps: reduce threats, protect and restore habitat, create an ex situ safety net, then reintroduce and monitor. Explain why this sequence is logical.
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10suggest4 marks
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A country has limited funding. It can either expand protected areas or build a new zoo breeding facility for one flagship species. Suggest two factors that should guide the decision.
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11suggest4 marks
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A zoo starts a captive breeding programme with only 12 individuals of a big cat species. Suggest one genetic problem that could occur and explain why.
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12suggest2 marks
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A rare plant is threatened by a new fungal disease and also by habitat fragmentation. Suggest one in situ method and one ex situ method that could be used together.
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13explain3 marks
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A seed bank stores seeds from a drought-tolerant tree species that is disappearing due to repeated wildfires. Explain how a seed bank can help prevent extinction.
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14evaluate4 marks
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The map shows several protected areas in a tropical country, along with major roads, rivers, and a large city. Evaluate the design of the protected area network as a strategy to conserve biodiversity. [4]
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15outline2 marks
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Outline one genetic limitation of captive breeding programmes.
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16state1 mark
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State one condition needed for a successful reintroduction to the wild.
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17suggest3 marks
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A captive-bred predator is released into a protected area but many individuals die within weeks. Suggest two reasons why reintroduction can fail.
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18explain3 marks
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A conservation team wants to use ex situ methods for a bird species whose nesting forest has been cleared for agriculture. Explain why ex situ conservation alone may not be enough.
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19suggest2 marks
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A small island has a rare lizard threatened by an invasive predator. Suggest one reason why an ex situ “insurance population” might be started immediately.
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20describe6 marks
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Table 1 shows a conservation project over five years. The project added anti-poaching patrols, expanded a protected area, and ran a captive breeding programme with later releases.
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