What anthropogenic activity most impacts the survival trajectory of wild *H. zebra*?
Answer
Large-scale hydroelectric development
The single most significant factor threatening the survival of the Zebra Pleco in the wild is the construction of major dams associated with large-scale hydroelectric development within the Xingu basin. These massive engineering projects fundamentally change the river’s hydrography—the natural pattern of water flow—which directly eliminates the specific, essential environmental conditions, namely laminar flow and high oxygenation levels, that the species evolved to require for survival.
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