"One advantage of in situ conservation is that existing wild relatives can be preserved without collection". What does that mean?

Question

trancenova · Answer

Hi, well in situ conservation means that you attempt to conserve a species in its current habitat. If you were to try to conserve a species outside of its habitat you would have to in some way 'collect it'. In terms of animals this might mean capturing part of a population or in plants collecting seed, stems or whole plants. This can be highly destructive.

anonymous · Answer

Why would it be highly destructive?

trancenova · Answer

Well in terms of animals it can be quite stressful, it may also ruin their habitat trampling through it to get to them. With plants collection may aid in the spread of disease, excess trampling etc. However if you can't removed the threats from their current habitat you may have to remove them to save them anyway.

trancenova · Answer

You might also remove an individual (or more) from a population if you don't think they are able to sustain themselves and/or if you want to increase the population (ie. breeding programs).

anonymous · Answer

OH. I geddit. Thanks a bunch. :)

trancenova · Answer

no worries :)