What genetic responsibility is now carried by the population existing outside the Xingu river system?
Answer
Carrying the entire species' evolutionary mandate
Because the natural process of evolution via selection within the highly stressed Xingu river environment has been severely hampered or effectively paused, the population maintained *ex situ* (outside the native ecosystem) now holds the entire remaining genetic mandate for the species' future. This elevates the importance of maintaining broad genetic diversity within captive lines, even if they are bred under slightly different parameters than the wild type, as this preserved genetic material is the only foundation available should future environmental restoration become possible.
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