% pubman genre = article @article{item_3168877, title = {{Multiproxy dietary trait reconstruction in Pleistocene Hippopotamidae from the Mediterranean islands}}, author = {Bethune, Elehna and Kaiser, Thomas M. and Schulz-Kornas, Ellen and Winkler, Daniela E.}, language = {eng}, issn = {0031-0182}, doi = {10.1016/j.palaeo.2019.05.032}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, year = {2019}, date = {2019}, abstract = {{Geographically isolated insular species face energetic restrictions and commonly evolve adaptations that distinguish them from their mainland ancestors. During the Pleistocene, several Mediterranean islands were inhabited by now extinct Hippopotamidae. They underwent diverse changes in locomotion, dentition and body size. Based on these differences, it is supposed that they occupied different ecological niches depending on their respective faunal complexes and available resources. In this paper, we assess the paleoecology of dwarfed hippopotami from Crete, Malta, Sicily and Cyprus using a novel dental multiproxy approach. We applied dental topography analysis (SAGA-GIS) to measure the mean slope of the dental occlusal surface, mirroring dietary adaptations, as well as 3D surface texture analysis (3DST) to quantify the surface of occlusal wear facets, which correlate with dietary abrasiveness. Low slope values were found in the larger, more hypsodont hippopotami, whilst the smaller Phanourios minor displayed the highest occlusal relief with large compression basins. Since Hippopotamus pentlandi exhibited lower mean slope values than the larger, more hypsodont Hippopotamus amphibius, we conclude that lower occlusal reliefs reflect adaptations to lower diet quality and arid environments, which are characteristic of freshwater-limited island habitats. The 3DST analysis revealed distinct ecological niches for the investigated insular hippos. Hippopotamus creutzburgi exhibited enamel surface textures analogous to those of Hippopotamus amphibius, a fresh grass grazer, thus confirming a semiaquatic lifestyle at the upland lake at Katharo, Crete. Hippopotamus pentlandi was bound to a similar niche to the extant form, probably due to the mainland character of its fauna, but experienced more dust intake. Hippopotamus melitensis had to cope with high ingestion of abrasives, seemingly on account of a more generalistic diet in its resource-limited and small habitat. Results point to either Phanourios minor broadening its dietary niche in its almost competition-free habitat, or suggest a dietary shift following a climatic change. The adopted multiproxy approach proved to be useful in identifying dental adaptations and individual foraging strategies linked to energetically restricted habitats, and therefore contributes to a better understanding of basic evolutionary and ecological principles.}}, journal = {{Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology}}, volume = {533}, eid = {109210}, }