Question

Which one of the following is an example of ex situ conversation?
A. Sacred groves
B. National parks
C. Wildlife sanctuary
D. Seed bank

Answer 1

Hint:- India has a very rich biological diversity that ranges from cold deserts of Ladakh to the hot deserts of Thar, the temperate forest in Himalayas to the green tropical rainforest of Kerala. All these biodiversity is in danger due to human intrusions and it needs to be protected.

Complete answer:
In-situ conservation means on-site conservation. The plants in this conservation strategy are protected in their natural habitat. This is carried on by two methods:
- By protecting or cleaning in the habitat itself.
- By defending the species from predators.

It includes sacred groves, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
Sacred groves are patches of areas that are protected by tribal people for religious sanctity.
National parks are the areas that are strictly reserved for the betterment of wildlife and human interference through activities like forestry, grazing or cultivation are not permitted while in a sanctuary all such human activities that do not interfere with the wellbeing of animals is not permitted.
The ex-situ conservation strategy involves the establishment of zoos, botanical gardens, pollen, seed, seedling, tissue culture and DNA banks. These facilities provide housing and care for endangered species.
Seed bank or germplasm bank is the easiest way to store the germplasm of plants at low temperature. Seed banks involve cryogenic laboratory facilities in which the seeds of some species are kept viable for a long period. Germplasm can also be preserved by in vitro culturing where cutting of plants is maintained under controlled conditions.

So the correct answer is 4. Seed bank.

Note:- In, in-situ conservation, the stress is laid upon the protection of the total ecosystem. This leads to declaration of ‘protected area’. For protecting such areas various effective strategies are used. Ex-situ conservation is highly expensive and it does not protect all the ecosystems of an area as in-situ.