- Increased herbivory pressure on riparian vegetation: Hippos are voracious herbivores and play a significant role in shaping riparian ecosystems. Their selective grazing and trampling maintain a balance in plant communities, helping to prevent the dominance of certain plant species and promoting biodiversity. With the loss of hippos, other herbivores, such as elephants and buffaloes, may increase their browsing pressure on riparian vegetation, leading to changes in plant composition and structure and potential habitat degradation.
- Loss of habitat engineering effects: Hippos create and maintain important habitats through their activities. Their wallowing behavior creates pools that serve as water sources for various aquatic species during the dry season when other water sources may be scarce. These pools also provide breeding grounds for amphibians, fish, and other aquatic organisms. The loss of hippo wallows due to their extinction could impact the survival of these species and disrupt the ecological balance of the riparian ecosystem.
- Alteration of nutrient cycling: Hippos play a crucial role in nutrient cycling within the ecosystem. Their dung contains essential nutrients that fertilize the soil and contribute to the productivity of the riparian zone. Hippos also disperse these nutrients through their movement and wallowing, facilitating the transfer of nutrients between different parts of the ecosystem. With the loss of hippos, there would be reduced nutrient inputs, which could have cascading effects on the entire food web and ecosystem functioning.
- Impact on water quality: Hippopotamus dung contributes organic matter to water bodies, influencing nutrient concentrations and water quality. Their wallowing behavior and movement also help mix and oxygenate water, improving its quality for aquatic species. The absence of hippos would mean less organic matter input and reduced water mixing, potentially leading to changes in water chemistry, clarity, and dissolved oxygen levels, affecting the survival of aquatic organisms.
- Ecological imbalances and potential species loss: The loss of hippos could disrupt the predator-prey dynamics and competitive interactions among herbivores in the riparian ecosystem. This could result in population fluctuations of different species, potentially leading to the decline or even local extinction of species that depend on hippos or are influenced by their presence.
- Implications for human activities: Hippopotamus extinction would likely impact various human activities closely linked to these animals and their habitats. For example, wildlife tourism and sport hunting, which generate income for local communities and contribute to conservation efforts, could be negatively affected. In addition, changes in water quality and riparian vegetation structure may impact water utilization, agriculture, and fisheries, having socio-economic consequences for human communities.
The ecological consequences of hippopotamus extinction would be complex and interconnected, cascading through various ecosystem components. Understanding these potential impacts is essential for developing conservation strategies aimed at preserving the species and mitigating the negative consequences of their loss.