1.9 Conservation: Zoos

• Define conservation

  • Wise use of resources
  • To protect + preserve
  • Living + non-living organisms
  • Via in situ & ex situ
• What is in situ conservation?

  • Conserving a species inside its natural habitat
• ✅In situ:

  • Not only protects species, protects natural environment too
  • Prevents behavioural problems in animals (not seen as cruel)
• What is ex situ?

  • Conserving a species outside its natural environment e.g. zoos
• ✅ Ex situ:

  • Use when species' habitat is destroyed
  • Prevent genetic drift + inbreeding
  • Prevent predation + disease
• How does conservation increase genetic diversity of populations in ecosystems?

  Via protection + management
• List all the benefits of zoos:

  -Increase genetic diversity

  -Increases survival of endangered species via captive breeeding programmes:

  • Use stud books -> prevent inbreeding depression
  • Exchange of gametes/animals between zoos
  • Prevents breeding between close relatives -> prevent inbreeding depression
  • Does research on animals
  • Educates others on importance of various species
• List limitations of zoos captive breeding programmes:

  • When re-released, can spread diseases to wild pop
  • Small populations in zoos - risk of genetic drift
  • Difficult to mimic wild e.g. mating & hunting, which will cause problems on re-release
  • Some ppl say its cruel