Ex situ conservation (Off-site conservation)
▪ This approach involves placing threatened animals and plants in special care units for their protection.
▪ India has 35 botanical gardens and 275 zoological parks where animals which have become extinct in wild are maintained.
▪ By using cryopreservation (preservation at –196°C) technique, sperms, eggs, animal cells, tissues and embryos can be stored for long period in genes banks, seed banks, etc.
▪ Plants are propagated in vitro using tissue culture methods (micropropagation).
▪ It is the desirable approach when urgent measures to save extinction are required.
S. No. |
In situ conservation |
Ex situ conservation |
(i)
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It is conservation and protection of biodiversity in its natural habitat.
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It is conservation of selected threatened plant and animal species in places outside their natural habitat.
|
(ii)
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Population is conserved in the surroundings where they have developed their distinctive features. |
Population is conserved under simulated conditions that closely resemble their natural habitats.
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(iii)
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E.g., national parks, biosphere reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, etc. |
E.g., botanical gardens, zoological parks, wildlife safari, gene banks, etc. |