Stable isotope ecology of the common hippopotamus

The diet of African hippopotamids can be documented through stable carbon isotope ratios (¹³C/¹²C) analyses of enamel and other tissues. The common hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius is widely assumed to be a pure grazer; however, the ¹³C/¹²C ratios of modern H. amphibius show a higher fraction of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of zoology (1987) 2008-10, Vol.276 (2), p.204-212
Main Authors: Cerling, T.E, Harris, J.M, Hart, J.A, Kaleme, P, Klingel, H, Leakey, M.G, Levin, N.E, Lewison, R.L, Passey, B.H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
carbon isotope ratio
Diet
Ecology
Freshwater
Herbivores
Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus amphibius
isotope ecology
Isotopes
Zoology
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Summary:The diet of African hippopotamids can be documented through stable carbon isotope ratios (¹³C/¹²C) analyses of enamel and other tissues. The common hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius is widely assumed to be a pure grazer; however, the ¹³C/¹²C ratios of modern H. amphibius show a higher fraction of dietary C₃ biomass than estimated from traditional observations. Isotope profiles of modern hair and modern tooth enamel confirm that H. amphibius has a variable diet in both the short- (seasonal) and long- (sub-decadal) time scales. Isotopic analyses of extant mammals from the same parks as the analyzed hippos provide comparative examples for diets of C₃-browsers and C₄-grazers. Oxygen isotope ratios (¹⁸O/¹⁶O) show that the hippo is consistently the most ¹⁸O-depleted mammal in any one ecosystem; this directly reflects its semi-aquatic habitat.
ISSN:0952-8369
1469-7998
DOI:10.1111/j.1469-7998.2008.00450.x