conservation

• a seed bank is a facility that conserves plant diversity by drying and storing seeds in a temperature controlled environment
• seed banks:

  • processed
  • cleaned
  • x rayed
  • counted
  • stored in cold conditions
• how are seeds in seed banks cleaned and why

  they are dried and disinfected to kill microorganisms to prevent decomposition
• why are seeds in seed banks x rayed

  to check viability of seeds

  to see if an embryo is inside

  to see the health of the embryo and the seed itself

  (if the seed is empty its useless)
• the longer the seeds in the seed bank is stored, the less viable it is
• germination test

  measure how many of those seeds germinate

  if 75% of germination, those seeds are considered viable
• ex situ (outside natural habitat) and in situ (within habitat) conservation
• germination - the sprouting of a seed, spore or other reproductive body, usually after a period of dormancy
• we conserve plants because they are:

  used for medicine

  to prevent extinction

  safeguard genes important for the future
• captive breeding programmes can breed individuals of a species so their offspring can be released into the wild
• captive breeding is an example of ex situ conservation and is used to increase the population of a species
• problems with captive breeding:

  smaller gene pool: increases chances of inbreeding therefore lead to inbreeding depression and a decrease in genetic fitness
• problems with zoos and their role in conservation

  certain animal species will not breed in captivity

  not all zoos can provide adequate habitats for animals with specific needs

  many people question the ethics of keeping animals in captivity
• zoos exchange individuals/gametes, reduces chance of inbreeding
• zoos also use a stud book to keep track of parentage, breeding events so you don't breed individuals that are closely related
• zoos can also use IVF or artificial insemination to prevent inbreeding