In Situ vs Ex Situ Conservation — NEET Biology
✅ Asked in NEET 2022In-situ conservation refers to: (NEET 2022 Phase 1)
In-situ conservation refers to: (NEET 2022 Phase 1)
In which of the following both pairs have correct combination: (AIPMT 2015)
Answer & NCERT explanation
Correct answer: A — Protect and conserve the whole ecosystem
In-situ conservation means protecting and conserving the whole ecosystem in its natural habitat. It includes protecting both threatened and non-threatened species along with their environment. Examples include National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries. Other options are incorrect as in-situ doesn't focus only on specific categories of species but the entire ecosystem.
Read more NCERT concept on the PYQ
When we conserve and protect the whole ecosystem, its biodiversity at all levels is protected - we save the entire forest to save the tiger. This approach is called in situ (on site) conservation. However, when there are situations where an animal or plant is endangered or threatened (organisms facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future) and needs urgent measures to save it from extinction, ex situ (off site) conservation is the desirable approach.
NTA tests your understanding of when to use in situ (protecting entire ecosystems like forests to save tigers) versus ex situ (removing endangered species to artificial settings) conservation. Students often confuse these terms or think one is always better than the other. The key trap: in situ is preferred for ecosystem-level protection, but ex situ becomes necessary when species face immediate extinction risk and wild habitats cannot save them. Remember: in situ = ecosystem intact, ex situ = species rescued. NEET may ask which approach applies to a specific endangered species scenario or why protecting one species requires protecting its entire habitat.
What does NCERT say about When we conserve and?
Has this concept appeared in NEET?
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Through deep analysis of NEET and NTA, 88 of 90 questions from the NEET 2026 paper were matched straight from the MedicNEET Biology question bank.
88/90MedicNEET's Biology question bank is built from the same NCERT lines NTA picks repeatedly. Not random MCQs — questions crafted exactly like NTA crafts them.