Earth.com: Dwarf hippos in Madagascar preferred forests
UC research highlights importance of forests on African island
Science writers highlighted the University of Cincinnati's insights into an extinct hippo that once roamed the island of Madagascar in Africa.
UC College of Arts and Sciences Professor Brooke Crowley led a team of researchers who used isotopic analysis to discover that extinct dwarf hippos were feeding on sedges and leaves in forests rather than on grass on open savanna like their mainland cousins today.
The findings suggest grasslands in Madagascar are a relatively recent change facilitated by people rather than a natural habitat sustained in part by hippos. The study was published in the journal Plants, People, Planet.
Earth.com noted that Malagasy hippos are far smaller than common hippos found on the mainland. They likely resembled pygmy hippos that likewise live in forests in West Africa.
Common hippos travel overland each night to graze on grass. Studies have found their foraging helps support grasslands, preventing the succession of other types of plants.
UC's study suggests that Malagasy hippos had little influence over grasslands found on the island today.
Featured image at top: A newborn baby pygmy hippo named Petunia was born in December at the Metro Richmond Zoo. Like extinct dwarf hippos, pygmy hippos live in forests. Photo/Metro Richmond Zoo
An isotopic analysis of bones found that dwarf hippos in Madagascar lived in forests rather than grasslands. Photo/Karen Samonds
Related Stories
Mural by UC grad honors U.S. military history
July 17, 2024
Local 12 highlighted a new mural by University of Cincinnati graduate and artist Brandon Hawkins that pays tribute to U.S. military history.
Social media fuels extreme political rhetoric
July 17, 2024
UC College of Arts and Sciences Professor Jeffrey Blevins tells Local 12 that online algorithms fuel political polarization on social media.
NIS program opens new horizons for international student
July 17, 2024
In his pursuit of physics and a taste for research, Akash Khanikor ventured from his hometown in India's Assam to the University of Cincinnati, drawn by the promise of hands-on exploration early in his undergraduate career as a NEXT Innovation Scholar.
Camp aims to empower children, teens who stutter
July 17, 2024
A one-week, evidence-based program for children and teens who stutter at the University of Cincinnati will teach kids to communicate effectively, advocate for themselves and develop confidence about their communication abilities. Camp Dream. Speak. Live., which is coming to Cincinnati for the first time July 22-26, began in 2014 at the University of Texas at Austin. The Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering Education and Research at UT expects to serve more than 2,000 children at camps across the United States, Africa, Asia and Europe this year.
UC archivist explores Troy’s invisible workers
July 17, 2024
UC Classics archivist Jeff Kramer examined the unheralded and largely uncredited role laborers played in the 1930s excavation at Troy in Turkey.
From intern to full-time: Recent Lighting Design grad joins Bandit Lites
July 16, 2024
Lighting & Sound America spotlights recent graduate Riley Rowan's new position at Bandit Lites, a full-service design, management and producer of live events and entertainment.
CCM alum Donald Lawrence to be inducted into Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame
July 16, 2024
UC College-Conservatory of Music alumnus Donald Lawrence is part of the 2024 class of Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame inductees. Located at the Banks in downtown Cincinnati, the induction ceremony on July 27 will feature a parade of stars and a free concert by the Zapp Band.
U.S. stroke survival is improving, but race still plays role
July 16, 2024
U.S. News & World Report, HealthDay and Real Health covered new research from the University of Cincinnati that found overall rates of long-term survival following stroke are improving, but Black individuals experience worse long-term outcomes compared to white individuals.
Presidential challenge to UC: Join Ride Cincinnati to fight cancer
July 16, 2024
UC President Neville Pinto has again challenged every UC college and unit to send at least one rider to the September 14 Ride Cincinnati event to help fundraise for cancer research and cancer care. UC students ride free. Signup by July 31 for free UC-branded cycling jersey.
Pediatric ICU rates linked to housing quality, income, education
July 16, 2024
Healio highlighted research led by the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children's Hospital's Carlie Myers that found a link between pediatric ICU admission rates and housing quality, household income and education.