Question

An ex-situ conservation method for endangered species is
A. National parks
B. Cryopreservation
C. Wildlife sanctuary
D. National park, sanctuary and Biosphere reserve

Answer 1

Ex-situ conservation is the process of protecting an endangered species, plants and animals outside its natural habitat by simply removing part of population from a threatened habitat and placing it in a new location.

Complete Answer:
Ex-situ conservation is the selected plants or animal conservation in regions outside the natural forms. It basically includes offsite collection as well as gene banks.

Advantages of ex-situ conservation are:
(I) It helps in control of essential conditions such as climate control, dietary intake, veterinary care etc.
(II) Improves the chances of successful breeding with the help of artificial methods like IVF and embryo transfer.

- Cryopreservation is the ex-situ method for plants. It involves the storage of seeds, pollen or embryos in liquid nitrogen.
- Conservation of livestock genetics can also be done with the help of cryopreservation.
- Cryopreservation is used for indefinite storage of material over a much greater time period.
- The conservation of ecosystems and natural habitats and the recovery of viable populations of species in their natural surroundings is called as in situ conservation.
Example of in situ conservation – national parks, biosphere reserves and sanctuaries.

So, the correct answer is Cryopreservation.

Note: Ex-situ techniques are costly, cryogenic storage is economically infeasible because species stored in this manner may slowly drain the financial resources of the organization. But the maintenance of species is required for the sustainable growth and development. The basic difference between the in situ and ex situ conservation is the habitat place where the process is carried out.