Are hippos Africa's most influential megaherbivore? A review of ecosystem engineering by the semi‐aquatic common hippopotamus

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 98(5), С. 1509 - 1529

Опубликована: Апрель 24, 2023

Megaherbivores perform vital ecosystem engineering roles, and have their last remaining stronghold in Africa. Of Africa's megaherbivores, the common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) has received least scientific conservation attention, despite how influential activities appear to be. Given potentially crucial influence of hippos, as well mounting concerns threatening long-term persistence, a review evidence for hippos being engineers, effects engineering, is both timely necessary. In this review, we assess, (i) aspects hippo biology that underlie unique potential; (ii) evaluate ecological impacts terrestrial aquatic environments; (iii) compare other extant African megaherbivores; (iv) factors most critical engineering; (v) highlight future research directions challenges may yield new insights into role megaherbivores more broadly. We find variety key life-history traits determine hippo's influence, including semi-aquatic lifestyle, large body size, specialised gut anatomy, muzzle structure, small partially webbed feet, highly gregarious nature. On land, create grazing lawns contain distinct plant communities alter fire spatial extent, which shapes woody demographics might assist maintaining fire-sensitive riverine vegetation. water, deposit nutrient-rich dung, stimulating food chains altering water chemistry quality, impacting host different organisms. Hippo trampling wallowing alters geomorphological processes, widening riverbanks, creating river channels, forming gullies along well-utilised paths. Taken together, propose these myriad combine make megaherbivore, specifically because high diversity intensity compared with capacity transfer nutrients across boundaries, enriching ecosystems. Nonetheless, pollution extraction agriculture industry, erratic rainfall patterns human-hippo conflict, threaten persistence. Therefore, encourage greater consideration engineers when considering functional importance megafauna ecosystems, increased attention declining habitat populations, if unchecked could change way many ecosystems function.

Язык: Английский

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Jaw-muscle fiber architecture and skull form facilitate relatively wide jaw gapes in male cercopithecoid monkeys

Journal of Human Evolution, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 197, С. 103601 - 103601

Опубликована: Ноя. 4, 2024

Язык: Английский

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Talking heads: disentangling the shape changes of the large extant hippopotamus during its ontogenetic development

Integrative Zoology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Май 30, 2024

Using a 3D geometric morphometrics approach, we shed light on the major changes during ontogenetic development of Hippopotamus amphibius. The main shift in shape variability cranial elements juveniles can probably be related to interruption suckling. A less stressed attainment sexual maturity. Semilandmarks and landmarks are powerful tools discriminate between extant species and, therefore, this technique will particularly useful future study fossil ones as well. Please note: publisher is not responsible for content or functionality any supporting information supplied by authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should directed corresponding author article.

Язык: Английский

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Contrasting selection pressure on body and weapon size in a polygynous megaherbivore

Biology Letters, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 17(10)

Опубликована: Окт. 1, 2021

Sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is a common morphological trait in ungulates, with polygyny considered the leading driver of larger male body mass and weapon size. However, not all polygynous species exhibit SSD, while molecular evidence has revealed more complex relationship between paternity mating system than originally predicted. SSD is, therefore, likely to be shaped by range social, ecological physiological factors. We present first definitive analysis hippopotamus ( Hippopotamus amphibius ) using unique dataset collected from 2994 aged individuals. The results confirm that hippos but mean differed only 5% sexes, which rather limited compared many other ungulates. jaw canine are significantly greater males females (44% 81% heavier, respectively), highlighting considerable selection pressure for acquiring weapons. A predominantly aquatic lifestyle coupled limitations their foregut fermenting morphology restricts differences sexes. Indeed, appear rare example among ungulates whereby sexual favours increased over mass, underlining important role species-specific ecology physiology have shaping SSD.

Язык: Английский

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Quantitative evidence for dimorphism suggests sexual selection in the maxillary caniniform process of Placerias hesternus

PLoS ONE, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 19(5), С. e0297894 - e0297894

Опубликована: Май 31, 2024

Placerias hesternus , a Late Triassic dicynodont, is one of the last megafaunal synapsids Mesozoic. The species has tusk-like projection on its maxillary bone, known as caniniform process. This process been hypothesized to be sexually dimorphic since 1950s, however this claim not thoroughly investigated quantitatively. Here, we examined maxillae, premaxillae, quadrates, and fibulae from single population Quarry in Blue Mesa Member Chinle Formation, near St. Johns, Arizona, USA determine if dimorphic. We made total 25 measurements four bones used maximum likelihood framework compare fit unimodal versus bimodal distributions for each set measurements. Our results complete maxillae reveal that two distinct morphs, with shorter longer form. interpretation substantiated both by strong statistical support distribution lengths, clustering analysis clearly distinguishes morphs maxillae. Clustering also shows potential dimorphism shape quadrate. However, no elements other than maxilla have distribution. These long-standing hypothesis was Alternative explanations sexual could account among these fossils include presence juveniles sample or time-averaged sampling chronospecies, but previously rejected population. lack non-maxilla increased variation length large-caniniform morph suggest secondary trait, possibly intraspecific competition.

Язык: Английский

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Present distribution of common hippopotamus populations in southern Africa, and the need for a centralised database

Biological Conservation, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 301, С. 110878 - 110878

Опубликована: Ноя. 26, 2024

Язык: Английский

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Cetacean Evolution: Copulatory and Birthing Consequences of Pelvic and Hindlimb Reduction

Springer eBooks, Год журнала: 2023, Номер unknown, С. 65 - 83

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2023

Язык: Английский

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