Difference Between In Situ and Ex Situ Conservation

Biodiversity embraces the diversity and variability of all forms of life on Earth that play a major part in human existence. The conservation of biodiversity embraces maintenance, sustainable utilisation, and conservation of lost and degraded biodiversity through two basic and complementary techniques known as ex-situ and ex-situ. Ex Situ is the conservation technique of all levels of biological diversity aways from their natural habitat through different techniques like the botanical garden, zoo, aquarium, captive breeding, etc. 

On the other hand, In-situ means the conservation of natural habitats and ecosystems and maintenance and recovery of viable populations in their natural habitats. Similarly, there are other differences between in-situ and ex-situ conservation of biodiversity, which we will discuss in this article.

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What Is In-Situ Conservation?

The preservation of species and populations of living organisms in a natural environment in a natural state in the habitat where they occur is termed in-situ conservation. This method preserves both the population and the evolving process that enables the population to adapt by managing organisms in their natural state or within their natural surroundings. The long term aim of in-situ conservation is to ensure their survival, evolution, and adaptation to changing environments such as variation in rainfall patterns, global warmings, acid rain, and habitat loss by following steps to protect, manage and, controlling the selected population in their natural habitat so that the natural evolution process can be maintained, hence permitted new variation to be developed in the gene pool.

The in situ conservation techniques are broadly defined as a generic reserve, on the farm, and home-garden conservation.

In-Situ Conservation Example In India

Here are some of the In-Situ conservation examples in India:

1. National Parks

2. Wildlife Sanctuaries

3. Biosphere Reserves

What Is Ex-Situ Conservation?

Ex- Situ conservation is the process of maintaining and breeding endangered plants and animals under partially or completely controlled conditions in specific areas including zoos, gardens, and sceneries. This implies that the conservation of selected plants and animals in the selected areas outside their natural environment is known as ex-situ conservation. The strain on living organisms due to the competition for food, water, space, etc. can be prevented by ex-situ conservation, thereby providing conditions necessary for secure life and breeding.

The ex-situ conservation techniques include a zoological garden, botanical garden, pollen, seed, seedling, tissue culture, conservation strand and genes, and DNA banks.

Ex-Situ Conservation Examples In India

In India, botanical gardens, gene banks, and zoological gardens are established to undergo an ex-situ conservation process. National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) and National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR) is set up in India for the purpose of Ex-situ conservation.

In India, the total number of animal parks, zoos, and aquaria are almost 300, while there are 34 botanical gardens, including National Botanical Garden in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

Difference Between In Situ and Ex-Situ Conservation Description

1. In Situ Conservation  And Ex - Situ Conservation Definition

In Situ conservation is the process of conserving and protecting genetic resources of plant and animal species in their natural habitat itself.

Ex -Situ conservation is the process of conserving biological diversity outside their natural environment and is done through different techniques like captive breeding, zoo, aquaria, tissue culture, safaris,  Cryopreservation, and botanical garden.

2. Mobility

In situ conservation offers greater mobility as animal species are safeguarded in their natural habitat.

Ex-situ conservation offers less mobility to the organism due to their smaller habits or regions in comparison to the in situ.

3. Situ Conservation Examples

In-Situ Conservation Examples: Lake, Marine parks, Biosphere Reserves, National Parks, Sacred Forest, Gene Sanctuaries. For example, Rhododendrons.

Ex-Situ Conservation Examples: Botanical garden, Zoo, Tissue Culture Bank, Ova Banks, Gene Banks, etc.

4. Benefits

In-Situ Conservation

• It is a cheap and convenient way of conserving biological diversity.

• Entire natural habitats or ecosystems are protected to ensure the survival of species.

• It is a less disrupted method of conservation.

• Organisms in a natural system not only live and multiply but evolve as well. 

• It is useful in conserving a large population of species.

Ex-Situ Conservation

• Genetic techniques can be used in this process.

• Captive breeding can be reintroduced in the wild. 

• It gives longer life expectancy and breeding to animals.

• Animals and plants, if endangered, can be bred to increase their population.

• Selective breeding programs can be put into effect.

Disadvantage 

1. In-Situ Conservation

• It requires extensive areas.

• It can be difficult to control some factors that are threatening species — for example, predators, poaching, or climate change.

• The animal species could be less productive and hence expensive to be monitored and maintained. 

• Animals are constantly under the threat of several diseases and natural disasters.

• Ecological tourists and poachers may find these habitats an opportunity and may cause them.

2. Ex-Situ Conservation

• Expensive to maintain.

• Nutritional issues may occur.

• Animals can exhibit a wide range of different diseases.

• Effective survival environment conditions may be difficult to achieve.

• This conservation technique is suitable for only a few kinds of species.

• Costly method of conservation.

Difference Between In Situ and Ex Situ Conservation of Biodiversity: Tabulated Form

The table given below represents the difference between in-situ and ex-situ.