Conservation of Biodiversity

1 Mark Questions

1. Write the importance of cryopreservation in conservation of biodiversity. [Delhi 2011]

Ans. Gametes of threatened species can be preserved in viable and fertile conditions for long periods by cryopreservation.

2.Mention one application of pollen bank. How are pollen stored in a bank? [Delhi 2008C]

Ans. Pollen banks can be used to store pollen grains like seed banks. Stored pollen grains can be used in pollen breeding programmes. Pollen grains can be stored in liquid nitrogen -196°C for many years.

2 Marks Questions

1. State the uses of biodiversity in modern agriculture. [All India 2011]

Ans. Uses of biodiversity in modern agriculture are:

1. Humans obtain food, fibres, medicines and many industrial products from plants.
2. Wild varieties of plants are used for breeding to obtain disease and pest resistant crops with many desirable traits.
3. By exploring molecular, genetic and species level diversity for economically important products, rich biodiversity can be obtained.
4. Differentiate between insitu and exsitu approaches of conservation of biodiversity. [All India 2011]

Ans. Differences between in situ and ex situ approaches of conservation of biodiversity are:____

In situ conservation Ex situ conservation This method involves It involves placing of protection of threatened animals endangered species in and plants in special their natural habitat. care unit for their protection. It helps in recovering It helps in recovering populations in the populations or surroundings where preventing their they have developed extinction under their distinct features. stimulated conditions that closely resemble their natural habitats. e.g. national parks, e.g. botanical garden, biosphere reserves, zoological parks. wildlife sanctuaries, etc.

1. Biodiversity must be conserved as it plays an important role in many ecosystem services

that nature provides. Explain any two services of the ecosystem. [Delhi 2010]

Ans. The two ecosystem services are:

1. Forest ecosystem, mitigates droughts and floods.
2. The wildlife help in pollination of crops.
3. Why certain region have been declared as biodiversity hot spots by environmentalists of the world? Name any two hot spot regions of India. [Delhi 2010]

Ans. Certain regions are declared hot spots by the environmentalists because these regions have very high levels of species richness and high degree of endemism. Hot spots of India are Western Ghats and Sri Lanka, Himalayas and Indo-Burma

3 Marks Questions

1. There are many animals that have become extinct in the wild but continue to be maintained in zoological parks. '

What type of biodiversity conservation is observed in this case?

Explain any other two ways which help this type of conservation. [Delhi 2014]

Ans. (i) The animals maintained in zoological parks is an example of ex situ conservation, as it involves threatened animals in special conditions, away from natural habitat, in order to protect them.

1. The other ways of maintaining the endangered animals or species by ex situ conservation are botanical gardens and wildlife safari parks.
2. White Bengal tigers are protected in special settings in zoological parks. Tiger reserves are maintained in Western Ghats.

How do these two approaches differ from each other? Mention the advantages of each one.

• What is the significance of cryopreservation technique? [All India 2010C]

Ans. White Bengal tigers are protected in special settings in zoological parks. This is called ex situ conservation, while tiger reserves are maintained in Western Ghats. This is called in situ

1. For differences between two approaches, i.e. in situ conservation and ex situ conservation and their advantages.