Lesson 4.6.3

4.6.3 Conservation by zoos and seed banks Quiz: Pearson Edexcel Biology A (Salters-Nuffield), Unit 4

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 4.6.3, Conservation by zoos and seed banks: 20 multiple choice questions for the Pearson Edexcel Biology A (Salters-Nuffield) (9BI0), Unit 4: Biodiversity and Natural Resources, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which activity is a captive breeding programme in a zoo mainly designed to do?

    • Remove animals from the wild permanently
    • Maintain a breeding population for reintroduction
    • Store the seeds of the animals' food plants
    • Increase the number of hunted animals for food

  2. What is the purpose of a reintroduction programme?

    • To make endangered species easier to hunt
    • To produce hybrid species for sale
    • To move wild animals into zoos permanently
    • To return bred or rescued animals to the wild

  3. Which contribution do seed banks make to conservation?

    • They store seeds of endangered plants to preserve genetic diversity
    • They remove seeds from habitats to clear space for development
    • They grow plants for sale to the public
    • They breed animals that eat the stored seeds

  4. Why do zoos and seed banks carry out scientific research?

    • To improve breeding and understanding of species
    • To make the animals perform for visitors
    • To increase the price of tickets
    • To remove the need for any wild habitat protection

  5. Which of the following is a benefit of education programmes at zoos?

    • They reduce the genetic diversity of captive populations
    • They make conservation illegal in some countries
    • They raise public awareness and support for conservation
    • They replace the need for wild habitat protection

  6. A zoo keeps a small group of an endangered bird in captivity. Why must the breeding programme track genetic diversity?

    • Low diversity risks inbreeding and poor adaptation
    • Genetic diversity only matters for plants, not animals
    • A small group always has the highest diversity possible
    • Diversity has no effect on survival in small populations

  7. Which problem in reintroduction programmes is most likely to reduce survival of released animals?

    • Released animals having the same diet as their wild relatives
    • Released animals having too much genetic diversity
    • Released animals being given too much sunlight
    • Released animals lacking the skills to find food or avoid predators

  8. Which is an ethical concern a zoo must weigh when running a breeding programme?

    • The size of the gift shop
    • Animal welfare against conservation benefit
    • The cost of ticket sales to visitors
    • The colour of the signs around the enclosures

  9. A study evaluates a zoo's conservation work. Which measure best shows its success?

    • Whether released animals breed and survive in the wild
    • The colour of the enclosure walls
    • The number of visitors who attend in one year
    • The price of tickets compared with other attractions

  10. Why are seed banks valuable for conservation even when the plants are not yet extinct?

    • They preserve genetic diversity before it is lost
    • They replace all wild habitats permanently
    • They reduce the need for scientific monitoring
    • They make plants grow faster in the wild

  11. What is a limitation of captive breeding as a conservation method?

    • It cannot restore habitat loss, so released animals may have no suitable home
    • It always produces more genetic diversity than wild populations
    • It makes reintroduction unnecessary
    • It removes the need for education programmes

  12. Which evidence would best support the effectiveness of a reintroduction programme?

    • Monitoring breeding and survival of released animals
    • The number of souvenirs sold in the gift shop
    • The size of the zoo's car park
    • The number of animals displayed in the zoo

  13. Why do zoos and seed banks work together with field conservation?

    • Field conservation makes zoos and seed banks unnecessary
    • Zoos and seed banks replace field work completely
    • Each one competes for the same funding and resources
    • Each supports the others with data and genetic stock

  14. A zoo releases animals but they have little genetic diversity. Which approach would best improve the programme?

    • Bring in breeding stock from other populations
    • Stopping all monitoring after release
    • Using a single male for all breeding
    • Breeding only the most closely related animals together

  15. A conservation charity must choose between funding a zoo breeding programme and a field habitat project. Which evaluation is best?

    • Always choose the zoo because it has more visitors
    • Always choose the field project because zoos have no value
    • It depends on whether habitat loss is the main threat
    • Neither option can ever help endangered species

  16. Why does a zoo keep records of breeding pairs and genetic relationships?

    • To remove the need for DNA testing
    • To track which animals are the most popular with visitors
    • To plan breeding that maximises genetic diversity and avoids inbreeding
    • To decide the menu for the zoo cafe

  17. A seed bank cannot germinate a sample after 50 years of storage. What is the most likely cause?

    • Loss of seed viability over time, perhaps from poor storage conditions
    • The seed bank has no record of the species
    • The seeds were stored at too low a temperature to avoid all damage
    • The seeds have increased their genetic diversity

  18. A seed bank stores seeds at low temperature and low humidity. Why?

    • To keep seeds dormant and viable for a long time
    • To increase photosynthesis in the stored seeds
    • To encourage bacteria to grow on the seed coat
    • To make the seeds germinate quickly on arrival

  19. What is the difference between in situ and ex situ conservation?

    • In situ means in a laboratory dish, while ex situ means in the wild
    • Ex situ conservation applies only to plants, and in situ only to animals
    • In situ is in the natural habitat; ex situ is outside it
    • In situ and ex situ are two names for the same approach

  20. Why are stored seed samples from many populations useful for research into plant genetics?

    • They reproduce faster while in storage
    • They no longer contain any DNA
    • They allow genetic comparison of populations
    • They can be sold as food for animals only

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