Conservation
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| extinct | 灭绝 | miè jué |
| biodiversity | 生物多样性 | shēng wù duō yàng xìng |
| climate change | 气候变化 | qì hòu biàn huà |
| habitat loss | 栖息地丧失 | qī xī dì sàng shī |
| endangered species | 濒危物种 | bīn wēi wù zhǒng |
| seed bank | 种子库 | zhǒng zi kù |
| invasive species | 入侵物种 | rù qīn wù zhǒng |
Protecting what's left
- A species can become extinct 灭绝 — die out completely.
- We try to protect biodiversity 生物多样性 for many reasons.
- There are several ways to conserve threatened species.
Conservation action lab
Follow how conservation moves from threat to protected population.
Why species die out — and why to protect them
- Extinction causes: climate change 气候变化, competition (often from new species), hunting by humans, and habitat loss 栖息地丧失.
- We conserve because other species give us food, medicines and materials, help keep ecosystems stable, and have value in themselves.
Which is a cause of extinction?
Habitat loss (plus climate change, competition and hunting) can drive a species extinct.
Why do we conserve biodiversity?
Biodiversity provides resources, keeps ecosystems stable, and has intrinsic value.
Ways to conserve
- zoos and botanic gardens keep and breed endangered species 濒危物种.
- protected conservation areas (national parks, marine parks) keep habitats safe.
- seed banks 种子库 and 'frozen zoos' store seeds, cells, eggs and sperm for the future.
- assisted reproduction for rare mammals: IVF, embryo transfer, surrogacy.
- controlling invasive species 入侵物种 that out-compete native ones.
In-situ conservation protects species in their habitat; ex-situ keeps them in zoos, seed banks and gene banks
Conserving a species in its natural habitat (e.g. a nature reserve) is called ______ conservation.
In situ = in place (the habitat); ex situ = off-site (zoos, seed banks).
Ex situ conservation means protecting a species away from its habitat — for example in a zoo or seed bank.
Ex situ (zoos, botanic gardens, seed banks, frozen zoos) is a backup when the habitat itself is threatened.
Seed banks and "frozen zoos" conserve species by:
They preserve genetic material (seeds, cells, gametes) so species can be restored later.
Worldwide help
- the IUCN lists how threatened each species is.
- CITES controls the international trade in endangered animals and plants.
What does CITES do?
CITES controls trade in endangered species; the IUCN lists how threatened each species is.
Match each conservation term to its meaning.
In situ protects the habitat; ex situ is a backup; CITES and the IUCN are the international tools.
You've got it
- extinction causes: climate change, competition, hunting, habitat loss
- conserve for food/medicine/materials, ecosystem stability, and intrinsic value
- methods: zoos/botanic gardens, protected areas, seed banks/frozen zoos, assisted reproduction, control invasive species
- IUCN lists threat level; CITES controls trade in endangered species