+3 votes
in Class 12 by kratos

(a) What are the two types of desirable approaches to conserve biodiversity ? Explain with examples bringing out the difference between the two types.

(b) What is the association between the bumblebee and its favourite orchid Ophrys ? How would extinction or change of one affect the other ?

1 Answer

+2 votes
by kratos
 
Best answer

(a) The two types of desirable approaches to conserve biodiversity are in-situ and ex-situ conservation.

Difference between in-situ and, ex-situ conservation of biodiversity:

In-situ

(a) Protection of the total ecosystem.

(b) Protected areas are managed through legal or other effective means.

(c) The endangered species of plants and animals are protected in their natural habitat.

(d) In this approach, ecologically unique and biodiversity-rich regions are protected as biosphere reserves, national parks and sanctuaries.

(e) India has 14 biosphere reserves, 90 national parks and 448 wildlife sanctuaries.

Ex-situ

(a) In this approach, threatened animals and plants are taken out from their natural habitat and placed in a special setting where they can be protected and given special care.

(b) Zoological parks, botanical gardens and wildlife safari parks serve this purpose.

(c) In recent years, gametes of threatened species can be preserved in viable and fertile condition for long periods using cryopreservation techniques.

(d) Commensalism is the type of association seen between the bumble bee and the orchid Ophrys. In this type of association, one species is benefitted and the other is neither harmed nor benefitted. Here, one petal of its flower bears an uncanny resemblance to the female of the bee in size, colour and markings. The male bee is attracted to what it perceives as a female, 'pseudocopulates' with the flower, and during that process is dusted with pollen from the flower. When this same bee 'pseudocopulates' with another flower, it transfers pollen to it and thus, pollinates the flower.

(b) The association between the bumble bee and orchid is commensalism. In this association a petal of the orchid flower resembles with the female bee in *****, size. The male bee get attracts to that petal which resembles with the female bee and pseudocopulates with the flower and gets pollen dust from the flower. The pollen gets transferred through the male bee to the another flower. So the male bee act as a pollinator.

Yes definitely because the orchid flowers are dependent on the male bee for the pollination and population of orchid will get decreased if bee gets extinct. On the other hand if orchids get extinct it would not affect the bee population.

...