During the dry season in both observation years the low-density H. amphibius pools hosted more than two times higher fish diversity and approximately two times higher invertebrate diversity than the high-density H. amphibius pools
Hippos greatly decrease fish and invertebrate diversity during the dry season.
We predicted we would observe the most pronounced differences between pools with high and low densities of H. amphibius during the dry season when there is no flow.
Hypothesis
We compared river pools with high and low densities of H. amphibius to determine how H. amphibius subsidies shape the chemistry and ecology of aquatic communities.
How does the presence of hippos affect the kind and amount of vegetation and other animals?
eutrophication
What is eutrophication?