Question

Which among these is not an ex-situ conservation strategy?
A. Seedbanks
B. Botanical gardens
C. Cryopreservation
D. Biosphere reserves
E. Tissue culture

Answer 1

Ex-situ conservation is a process of protecting endangered species outside its natural habit. This involves the transfer of species from where it is found. Whereas in situ conservation is the process of protecting endangered species inside their natural habitat.

Complete answer: Seed banks are a type of gene bank which stores seed to preserve genetic variation. The seeds are dried to optimum moisture content and are then tested for genetic purity and quality. Then these seeds are stored in moisture-proof containers. Here the seeds are transferred from their natural habitat. Hence it is a method used in ex situ conservation.
A garden that is dedicated to the collection, cultivation, preservation, and display of a wide variety of plants is known as botanical gardens. The botanical gardens are controlled and staffed institutions for preserving living plants. Here the plants are transferred from the natural habitat; therefore it is an ex-situ conservation method.
The seeds, pollen grains, or the embryo are stored in liquid nitrogen. This is done to maintain a longer viability period. This process is known as cryopreservation. Here these are transferred from natural habitat and are then stored. So it is an ex-situ conservation method.
The legally protected areas are meant for conserving the species in their natural habitat. Since the species are preserved in natural habitat, this is a method of in situ conservation.
Any tissue of the plants can be cryopreserved and can be cultured later. This is a method used in ex situ conservation.
So from the above-given options biosphere reserve is not an ex-situ conservation.
So the option D) is the correct option.

Note: Ex-situ conservation and off-site conservation are said to be the same. Tissue culture is also known as micropropagation. It has been explained that it is the growth of tissues or cells in an artificial medium separated from the parent organism.