Summary
Protecting species outside natural habitat in zoos, seed banks and botanical gardens.
In depth
Zoos and breeding programmes, seed banks (Svalbard Global Seed Vault), botanical gardens and cryopreservation. Used when in-situ conservation is not enough, aiming for reintroduction. Limitations: captive adaptation and cost.
Zoos run studbooks to manage genetics. Seed banks store thousands of species. Reintroduction needs habitat to be restored first.
Remember: ex-situ is a backup, not a substitute for protecting habitats.
Ex-situ conservation protects species away from their natural habitat, in places such as zoos, aquaria, botanical gardens, seed banks, gene banks and cryopreservation facilities. It serves as an insurance policy and a source of animals or plants for reintroduction.
Captive breeding programmes use studbooks and genetic management to avoid inbreeding. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault holds over a million seed samples, and the Millennium Seed Bank in the UK aims to bank most plant species. Successful recoveries include the Arabian oryx, black-footed ferret, California condor and Przewalski's horse. Challenges are cost, adaptation to captivity, disease and the need for suitable habitat to return to.
Key idea: ex-situ complements, but cannot replace, in-situ protection of habitats.
Frequently asked questions
What is Ex-situ Conservation?
Protecting species outside natural habitat in zoos, seed banks and botanical gardens.
Which area of biology covers Ex-situ Conservation, and how advanced is it?
Ex-situ Conservation is one of the 52 topics in Taxonomy & Biodiversity. It is rated Intermediate, so it suits learners who already know the core vocabulary. Related topics in this area include Conservation Biology, Protected Areas, Genetic Rescue.
Can you give an example of Ex-situ Conservation?
California condor numbers rose from 22 to over 500 via captive breeding.
What should I learn before Ex-situ Conservation?
Work through the Beginner topics in Taxonomy & Biodiversity first, such as Taxonomy, Binomial Nomenclature, Taxonomic Hierarchy, then return to Ex-situ Conservation. Intermediate topics assume the Beginner vocabulary.
What topics are related to Ex-situ Conservation?
The closest topics to Ex-situ Conservation are Conservation Biology, Protected Areas, Genetic Rescue, Conservation Genomics. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
How can I check that I understand Ex-situ Conservation?
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Ex-situ Conservation. To practise the whole of Taxonomy & Biodiversity, use the Taxonomy & Biodiversity quiz.
How is Ex-situ Conservation different from Conservation Biology?
Ex-situ Conservation: Protecting species outside natural habitat in zoos, seed banks and botanical gardens. Conservation Biology: The scientific study and protection of biodiversity. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
How should I study Ex-situ Conservation step by step?
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Conservation Biology and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Taxonomy & Biodiversity quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.