What historical reliance for the aquarium trade initially placed unchecked pressure on wild *H. zebra* stocks?
Answer
Wild-caught individuals sourced directly from the river
For an extensive period after *H. zebra* first entered the ornamental fish hobby and became recognized as an ornamental species, the entire supply chain relied almost exclusively on specimens captured directly from its threatened natural habitat in the Xingu River system. This historical dependency on wild capture meant that collection efforts, which were sometimes inconsistent or surged when new collection points were found, exerted significant, unchecked pressure on the already limited wild gene pool before the severe conservation crisis became fully apparent.
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