Which is an advantage of ex-situ conservation?

Options

A. Cheap method
B. Conserve large number of species together
C. Genetic process for breeding/long life
D. Existence in natural habitat

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Ex-situ Conservation**: Ex-situ conservation refers to the conservation of species outside their natural habitats. This includes practices like keeping animals in zoos, botanical gardens, or seed banks.

2. **Identifying the Advantages**: The question asks for an advantage of ex-situ conservation. We need to evaluate the benefits it provides compared to in-situ conservation.

3. **Evaluating Options**:
- **Cost**: It is mentioned that ex-situ conservation is not a cheap method; in fact, it is more expensive than in-situ conservation. Therefore, this cannot be considered an advantage.
- **Conservation of Large Numbers of Species**: While zoos and similar facilities can house multiple species, each species is typically kept in specific enclosures, which limits the number of species that can be conserved together. Thus, this is not a strong advantage.
- **Genetic Breeding Processes**: Ex-situ conservation allows for controlled breeding programs. This is a significant advantage because it helps maintain genetic diversity and ensures the survival of species through careful management of breeding practices.
- **Existence in Natural Habitats**: This option refers to in-situ conservation, which is not relevant to ex-situ conservation.

4. **Conclusion**: The most significant advantage of ex-situ conservation is the ability to implement controlled breeding programs, which helps in the long-term survival and genetic health of species.

**Final Answer**: The advantage of ex-situ conservation is the genetic process for breeding long-term, which allows for controlled breeding and management of species.

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