What genetic characteristic highlights the long-term survival vulnerability of the specialized Kiwa genus?

Relatively low genetic diversity compared to relatives

While the Yeti Crab's specialization for the chemosynthetic niche has been an evolutionary success in stable vent environments, this extreme adaptation carries a significant long-term risk reflected in its genetic profile. Studies analyzing the genetic makeup of the *Kiwa* genus reveal that its overall genetic diversity is comparatively low when measured against some of its more generalized crustacean relatives, such as those inhabiting shallower waters. Low genetic diversity means the population possesses fewer alternative genetic pathways or variations upon which natural selection can act if the environment undergoes a sudden, fundamental shift. If a specific hydrothermal vent ceases activity, or if the chemical output changes beyond what the specialized symbiotic bacteria can process, the population's capacity to rapidly evolve a new survival strategy is severely constrained, rendering the entire genus highly vulnerable to extinction within their fixed habitat.