Large mammal declines reshape nutrient flows in African savannas—with consequences for tadpoles

A new study by researchers at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin reveals how the loss of large mammals can ripple through ecosystems in unexpected ways, even affecting amphibian larvae living in temporary ponds. By examining changes in nutrient dynamics over more than two decades, the researchers show that the decline of large herbivores is associated with a system-wide reduction in nitrogen isotope values ​​in aquatic habitats, highlighting how disruptions to terrestrial wildlife populations can ripple across ecosystem boundaries.