Ex-Situ conservation refers to the conservation of biodiversity outside of the normal habitats. The degree to which people influence the managed population's natural dynamics varies greatly, and this may involve changing living conditions, reproductive cycles, resource access, and protection from mortality and predators. Ex-situ conservation can take place both inside and outside of a species' native range. Zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, seed banks, and captive breeding programmes are a few examples of ex-situ conservation techniques. This article will explain to you about Ex-situ conservation which will be helpful in preparing the Environment Syllabus for the UPSC Civil Service exam.

Ex-situ Conservation

Ex-situ Conservation - Concept

• This method involves removing threatened animals and plants from their native environment and relocating them to a designated location where they can be protected and given specialised care.
• This is accomplished by zoological parks, botanical gardens, wildlife safari parks, and seed banks.
• Many species of animals are nevertheless kept alive in zoological parks despite going extinct in the wild.
• Ex-situ conservation has recently gone beyond the preservation of vulnerable species.
• Now, utilizing cryopreservation technology, gametes of endangered species can be kept in viable and fertile form for extended periods of time.
• In vitro fertilization of eggs and tissue culture techniques for plant propagation are also possible.
• In seed banks, seeds of several genetic strains of commercially significant plants can be preserved for a long time.
• The key focus of the national gene bank at the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), Delhi, is the long-term preservation of rare accessions as base collections for future generations, particularly in the form of seeds.

Ex-situ Conservation - Facilities

Botanical Gardens

• This is a technique for ex-situ conservation of endangered and threatened species in their local habitats.
• Governments at various levels, educational institutions, and international assistance are all involved in maintaining this.
• More than 80,000 species can be found in more than 1500 botanic gardens and arboreta around the globe.
• There are currently tissue culture labs, seed banks, and other ex-situ technologies at many of these botanical gardens.

Zoological Parks (Zoos)

• Around the world, there are more than 800 professionally run zoos that house around 3000 different species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
• These zoos frequently feature advanced captive breeding programmes.
• Breeders and genetic engineers have a ready source of genetic material thanks to the protection of crop plants', animals', or microbes' wild ancestors.
• Many tropical islands have a large number of indigenous animal species, and they also have a highly spectacular record of agro-biodiversity.

Wildlife Safari Parks

• A safari park, sometimes known as a wildlife park, is a zoo-like commercial is an ex-situ conservation technique.
• A zoo-like establishment frequently referred to as a "wildlife park," a safari park is an example of ex-situ conservation.
• It is a drive-in tourist attraction where visitors can ride in vehicles provided by the establishment or drive their own cars while watching animals roam freely.
• A safari park is bigger than a zoo and smaller than a game reserve. For instance, the 750-acre African Lion Safari in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (3.0 km2).

Seed Banks

• Seeds are kept in seed banks in order to protect genetic variety for the future.
• They often contain jars of seeds from various plant species and are vaults that are bomb, flood, and radiation proof.
• Seeds must be kept in storage for a variety of reasons. In order to boost crop output, disease resistance, drought tolerance, nutritional quality, flavor, and other traits, plant breeders need certain genes to be preserved.
• Another is to prevent the genetic diversity of rare or threatened plant species from being lost in an effort to ex situ conserve biodiversity.
• The seeds are normally stored in low humidity and cold (about -20°C) conditions.

Techniques for Plants

Cryopreservation

Seeds, pollen, tissue, and embryos are all stored in liquid nitrogen during plant cryopreservation. Compared to all other methods of ex situ conservation, this method allows for practically unlimited storage of the material without deterioration over a far longer time frame. Through cryoconservation of animal genetic resources, cryopreservation is also employed to conserve livestock genetics. Many species cannot be cryopreserved due to technical limits, but plants are the subject of several studies in the discipline of cryobiology, which is an area of ongoing research.

Seed Banking

• The preservation of seeds in a setting with controlled humidity and temperature is called seed banking.
• For taxa with conventional seeds that can withstand desiccation, this method is employed.
• Facilities for seed banks range from climate-controlled walk-in freezers or vaults to sealed boxes.
• Normally, taxa with resistant seeds that cannot tolerate desiccation aren't kept in seed banks for a very long time.

Field Gene Banking

• Field Gene Banking refers to a sizable open-air planting used to preserve the genetic variety of wild, domesticated, or forest species.
• In most cases, field gene banks conserve species that are either impossible or difficult to conserve in seed banks.
• Field gene banks can be used to cultivate and pick offspring of species preserved via various ex situ methods.

Cultivation Collections

• Cultivation Collections refers to plants that are cared for horticulturally in a built landscape, usually a botanic garden or arboretum.
• Although plants are kept in their natural habitat, this method is comparable to field gene banks in that collections are often not as large or genetically varied.
• These collections are vulnerable to disease spread, genetic drift, artificial selection, and hybridization. Frequently, cultivated collections contain species that cannot be preserved using other ex situ methods.

Inter situ

• Horticulture is used to take care of the plants, but the surroundings are kept as close to natural as possible.
• This happens in both semi-natural and restored habitats.
• This method is mainly applied to uncommon taxa or those that are found in severely degraded habitats.

Tissue Culture

• In tissue culture, somatic tissue can be kept in vitro for a short while.
• This is carried out in a setting with controlled lighting and temperature to manage cell development.
• Tissue culture is mostly utilized for clonal growth of vegetative tissue or immature seeds as an ex situ conservation strategy.
• This makes it possible for clonal plants to grow from a tiny amount of parent tissue.

Techniques for Animals

• Similar methods are used to protect endangered animal species and breeds.
• Gene Banks: In genebanks, which are composed of cryogenic facilities used to store living sperm, eggs, or embryos, animal species can be conserved.
• Cryopreservation: For instance, the Zoological Society of San Diego has created a "frozen zoo" to retain such samples from more than 355 species, including mammals, reptiles, and birds, using cryopreservation techniques.
• Interspecific Pregnancy: Interspecific pregnancy is one such method that could help endangered species reproduce.
• It involves implanting embryos of an endangered species into a female of a related species and allowing to bring the embryo to term. For the Spanish ibex, it has been done.

Ex-situ Conservation - Advantages

• Organisms are completely protected from predators and poachers.
• Individuals' health can be tracked and medical assistance can be provided as required.
• Populations can be divided more effectively in the case of a disaster.
• Genetic diversity of the population can be measured.
• Selective breeding programmes can be implemented.
• Modern reproductive technology can increase the chances of reproductive success.
• Animals and plants can be bred to increase their numbers if they are in danger of extinction.
• Research on an endangered species' reproductive physiology, way of life, and ecology is made simpler.
• Funds for additional conservation efforts might be raised by using conservation sites as attractions.
• Educational activities can take place at conservation areas.

Ex-situ Conservation - Disadvantages

• Genetic diversity in captive populations is minimal.
• As the creatures are residing outside of their normal habitat, nutritional problems could occur.
• Animals can be exposed to a wide variety of various diseases.
• Animals might not behave normally.
• Attempting to reproduce at times may become difficult.
• Appropriate environmental conditions for survival could be challenging to attain.
• Acceptance by the species' current wild members may present challenges.

Historic Citizen Movements to Conserve Biodiversity

Chipko Movement

• It is a social-ecological movement that used hugging trees to stop them from falling as a form of peaceful resistance and Gandhian satyagraha.
• Early in the 1970s, when awareness of rapid deforestation grew, the contemporary Chipko movement was born in Uttarakhand's Garhwal Himalayas.
• On March 26, 1974, a group of peasant women in Reni village, Hemwalghati, in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, India, took action to stop the cutting of trees and reclaim their traditional forest rights that were threatened by the contractor system of the state Forest Department.
• This action is considered the turning point in this conflict.
• Numerous such acts were sparked by their deeds at the local level around the area.
• By the 1980s, the movement had extended over all of India, which helped to shape people-sensitive forest policies that ended open tree-cutting in places like Vindhyas and the Western Ghats.
• However, the first known instance of Chipko was in the village of Khejarli in the Jodhpur area in 1730 AD when 363 Bishnois under the leadership of Amrita Devi gave their lives to hug green Khejri trees, which were revered by the locals.

Appiko Movement

• In India, the Appiko movement was a groundbreaking environmental conservation movement.
• The peasants of the district of Karnataka province in southern India started a similar initiative to safeguard their forests after being inspired by the Chipko movement in Himalayan Uttarakhand.
• Salkani men, women, and kids "hugged the trees" in Kalase forest in September 1983 (In Kannada, "hugging" is referred to as "appiko").
• Southern India saw a new consciousness as a result of the Appiko movement.

Conclusion

Ex-situ conservation requires regular assessments on the materials' viability and prompt regeneration, which vary depending on the crop species and their reproductive systems. Ex Situ conservationists will have to face and strive to resolve these issues in the upcoming ten to fifty years, much alone the entire new millennium. They will be important for the advancement of humanity. To ensure that the world's natural resources are accessible to everyone who needs them, we must work to preserve sections of the natural, or at least the semi-natural environment, not just for living and leisure, but also to ensure that they are preserved for future generations.

FAQs 

MCQs

1. What is the primary purpose of ex-situ conservation?

A. To maintain species in their natural habitat
B. To conserve species outside their natural habitat
C. To study extinct species
D. To promote natural breeding in the wild

2. Which of the following is an example of ex-situ conservation?

A. National parks
B. Wildlife sanctuaries
C. Zoos
D. Protected reserves

3. Which facility is used to conserve genetic material of plant species in ex-situ conservation?

A. Seed bank
B. Arboretum
C. Natural reserve
D. Wildlife corridor

4. Which of the following is a major goal of ex-situ conservation?

A. Studying species in their natural environment
B. Maintaining ecosystem services
C. Breeding endangered species in controlled environments
D. Restoring degraded ecosystems

5. Which of the following is NOT an ex-situ conservation method?

A. Seed bank
B. Gene bank
C. National parks
D. Zoos

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Discuss the role of ex-situ conservation in protecting endangered species.

Answer: Ex-situ conservation plays a crucial role in protecting endangered species by offering a controlled environment where species can be bred, researched, and protected from immediate threats like habitat destruction, poaching, and climate change. Facilities like zoos, botanical gardens, and seed banks provide a safe space for species to thrive and maintain genetic diversity, which is essential for future reintroductions into the wild. Captive breeding programs help increase populations of critically endangered species and contribute to global conservation efforts.

Q2: How does ex-situ conservation complement in-situ conservation efforts?

Answer: Ex-situ conservation complements in-situ conservation by acting as a safety net for species that are at risk in their natural habitats. While in-situ conservation focuses on preserving species in the wild, ex-situ conservation ensures that species can survive outside their habitat if the ecosystem is degraded or destroyed. Breeding programs and gene banks maintain genetic diversity and provide an opportunity to reintroduce species into their natural environment once it becomes safe and suitable again.

Q3: Evaluate the importance of seed and gene banks in ex-situ conservation.

Answer: Seed banks and gene banks are critical components of ex-situ conservation, as they preserve the genetic material of endangered plants and animals for future generations. These facilities store seeds and genetic samples under controlled conditions, ensuring that species can be reintroduced or regenerated in the future. Seed and gene banks are essential for maintaining biodiversity and providing a backup for species that are at risk of extinction in the wild due to habitat loss, climate change, or other factors.

Previous Year Questions on Ex-Situ Conservation

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2018

Question: Which of the following is an example of ex-situ conservation?
A. Biosphere reserve
B. National park
C. Botanical garden
D. Wildlife sanctuary

Answer: C

Explanation: A botanical garden is a form of ex-situ conservation, where plant species are preserved in a controlled environment outside their natural habitat.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2019 (GS Paper 3)

Question: Examine the role of ex-situ conservation methods in safeguarding global biodiversity.

Explanation: Ex-situ conservation methods, such as zoos, botanical gardens, and gene banks, play an important role in safeguarding global biodiversity by preserving species that face threats in their natural environments. These methods allow for the breeding and protection of endangered species, ensuring that genetic diversity is maintained. Ex-situ conservation also provides valuable opportunities for research and education, helping to raise awareness about conservation efforts and supporting reintroduction programs for species that can be returned to the wild.