Pied Tamarins Rely on Scent to Communicate in Areas with High Noise Pollution

Pied tamarins are a type of critically endangered monkey. The majority of their wild population lives in parts of the rainforest located in the city of Manaus, Brazil. Manaus is in the middle of the Amazon Rainforest, an epicenter of biodiversity. Since most wild pied tamarins live in rainforest habitats within a city, they face unique challenges and threats. One of these threats is the presence of high levels of human noise pollution. 

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Pied tamarins use both vocalizations and scents to communicate. Vocal calls have a further range and are used to communicate quickly. Pied tamarins use vocalizations to communicate not only with each other but also with other nearby monkey species. In contrast, scent has a much smaller range of communication but can linger for several days. Pied tamarins communicate via scent by using special glands to mark objects. These glands are located in the monkeys’ hands, feet, chests, and groins. The monkeys can mark their territorial boundaries or signal their availability as mates by rubbing their scent onto an object. 

A group of scientists from Anglia Ruskin University in the United Kingdom wanted to discover how increasing noise Pollution affected pied tamarins’ communication. To do this, they tracked nine groups of wild pied tamarins over ten days. The scientists discovered that, in areas that have high noise Pollution, pied tamarins rely much more heavily on scent to communicate. In areas with high noise Pollution levels, scent marking increased by 90 percent. 

Despite using higher levels of scent marking in areas with high noise Pollution, the pied tamarins continued to vocalize. However, other monkeys may not hear them since noise Pollution may drown out their calls. Researchers warn that noise Pollution has potentially harmful effects, and may lead to higher levels of conflict between groups of pied tamarins or between pied tamarins and other species. Although increased levels of scent marking show the ability of pied tamarins to adapt to higher levels of urban noise, these human noises can place more stress on the creatures. Scientists warn that high levels of noise Pollution can harm pied tamarins and other types of wildlife.

The Amazon Rainforest is a unique and important habitat. It is an epicenter of biodiversity and is home to ten percent of the earth’s known species. However, it is facing rapid deforestation. Sign this petition to Help Protect the Amazon!

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