Topic 3.6: In Situ vs Ex Situ Conservation Questions

State one example of ex situ conservation.

Define in situ conservation and ex situ conservation.

Identify whether creating a protected area is an in situ or ex situ conservation strategy.

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.

Define the term ex situ conservation.

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.

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]

Outline two advantages and two limitations of captive breeding as an ex situ conservation strategy.

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.

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.

A botanic garden stores living specimens of a rare orchid and grows seedlings for future habitat restoration. Outline two reasons why botanic gardens are useful in ex situ conservation.

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.

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.

A captive-bred predator is released into a protected area but many individuals die within weeks. Suggest two reasons why reintroduction can fail.

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.

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.

Table 1 shows captive breeding outcomes for two ex situ facilities working with the same endangered mammal. Facility A keeps animals in small enclosures with minimal training. Facility B uses larger enclosures and “wild skills” training before release.

Outline one genetic limitation of captive breeding programmes.

A small antelope species survives only in one fenced reserve. Managers are debating whether to build a wildlife corridor to a second reserve and also store genetic material in a gene bank. Explain how this combined approach could reduce extinction risk.

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.