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Sobroza TV, Gordo M, Dunn JC, Pequeno PACL, Naissinger BM, Barnett APA. Pied tamarins change their vocal behavior in response to noise levels in the largest city in the Amazon. Am J Primatol 2024; 86:e23606. [PMID: 38340360 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Many animal species depend on sound to communicate with conspecifics. However, human-generated (anthropogenic) noise may mask acoustic signals and so disrupt behavior. Animals may use various strategies to circumvent this, including shifts in the timing of vocal activity and changes to the acoustic parameters of their calls. We tested whether pied tamarins (Saguinus bicolor) adjust their vocal behavior in response to city noise. We predicted that both the probability of occurrence and the number of long calls would increase in response to anthropogenic noise and that pied tamarins would temporally shift their vocal activity to avoid noisier periods. At a finer scale, we anticipated that the temporal parameters of tamarin calls (e.g., call duration and syllable repetition rate) would increase with noise amplitude. We collected information on the acoustic environment and the emission of long calls in nine wild pied tamarin groups in Manaus, Brazil. We found that the probability of long-call occurrence increased with higher levels of anthropogenic noise, though the number of long calls did not. The number of long calls was related to the time of day and the distance from home range borders-a proxy for the distance to neighboring groups. Neither long-call occurrence nor call rate was related to noise levels at different times of day. We found that pied tamarins decreased their syllable repetition rate in response to anthropogenic noise. Long calls are important for group cohesion and intergroup communication. Thus, it is possible that the tamarins emit one long call with lower syllable repetition, which might facilitate signal reception. The occurrence and quantity of pied tamarin' long calls, as well as their acoustic proprieties, seem to be governed by anthropogenic noise, time of the day, and social mechanisms such as proximity to neighboring groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tainara Venturini Sobroza
- Projeto Sauim-de-Coleira, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Centro de Estudos Integrados da Biodiversidade Amazônica- CENBAM/PPBio de Pesquisa de Mamíferos Amazônicos, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Grupo de Pesquisa de Mamíferos Amazônicos, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Conservação e Uso de Recursos Naturais, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Boa Vista, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Gordo
- Projeto Sauim-de-Coleira, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Jacob C Dunn
- Department of Archaeology & Anthropology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Behavioural Ecology Research Group, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Adrian Paul Ashton Barnett
- Grupo de Pesquisa de Mamíferos Amazônicos, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Departamento de Zoologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, São Luis, Maranhão, Brazil
- Department of Natural Sciences, Middlesex University, London, UK
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Dias PAD, Gómez Espinosa EE, Chavira Ramírez DR, Rangel Negrín A. Noise intensity modulates the responses of mantled howler monkeys to anthropophony. Am J Primatol 2024; 86:e23568. [PMID: 37850516 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic noise is a major global pollutant but its effects on primates are poorly understood, limiting our ability to develop mitigation actions that favor their welfare and conservation. In this study, we used an experimental approach to determine the impact of variation in noise intensity on mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata). We conducted the study at Los Tuxtlas (México), where we studied the physiological stress (proxied via fecal glucocorticoid metabolites, fGCM) and behavioral responses of 16 males. We played back chainsaw noise at two intensities (40 and 80 dB) and used days in which groups were not exposed to noise as matched controls. With increased noise intensity fGCM increased, vigilance and vocalizations were longer, and vigilance, vocalizations, and flight occurred quicker. Physiological and behavioral responses occurred even after low-intensity noise playbacks (i.e., 40 dB). Therefore, noise intensity is a significant factor explaining the responses of mantled howler monkeys to anthropogenic noise. These results imply that management actions aimed at eradicating anthropogenic noise are required for the conservation and welfare of mantled howler monkeys at Los Tuxtlas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro A D Dias
- Primate Behavioral Ecology Lab, Instituto de Neuroetología, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, México
| | | | - David Roberto Chavira Ramírez
- Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Ariadna Rangel Negrín
- Primate Behavioral Ecology Lab, Instituto de Neuroetología, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, México
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Spider Monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) Habituate to Anthropogenic Pressure in a Low-Impact Tourism Area: Insights from a Multi-Method Approach. INT J PRIMATOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10764-022-00310-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Gómez-Espinosa E, Dias PAD, Rangel-Negrín A. The influence of anthropogenic noise on the behavior of male mantled howler monkeys. Am J Primatol 2022; 84:e23377. [PMID: 35417046 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Anthropogenic noise is increasingly disturbing natural soundscapes and affecting the physiology, behavior, and fitness of wildlife. However, our knowledge about the impact of anthropogenic noise on wild primates is scant. Here, we assess the effects of anthropogenic noise on the behavior of male mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata). Specifically, we describe the types, rates, and sound pressure level (SPL) of anthropogenic noise that occurs in areas inhabited by mantled howler monkeys and determine if the behavioral responses of males to anthropogenic noise are influenced by noise attributes. For 1 year (1753 h), we characterized anthropogenic noise in the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve (Veracruz, Mexico) and studied the behavior of males belonging to five groups. Anthropogenic noise was common, diverse, and varied among areas in terms of rate, type, and SPL. Males did not display behavioral responses toward most (60%) anthropogenic noises, but were more likely to respond to certain noise types (e.g., aerial traffic) and toward noise with high SPL. Group identity influenced the likelihood of displaying behavioral responses to noise. The most common behavioral responses were vocalizations and vigilance. Males vocalized in response to noise with high SPL, although this relationship depended on group identity. The effect of the number of noises on vocalizations also varied among groups. Males were more likely to display vigilance toward high SPL and infrequent noise, but, again, these relationships varied among groups. In sum, anthropogenic noise is pervasive in areas inhabited by mantled howler monkeys and influences male behavior. Experience and frequency of exposure may modulate the behavioral responses of male mantled howler monkeys to noise and explain the group differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eréndira Gómez-Espinosa
- Primate Behavioral Ecology Lab, Instituto de Neuroetología, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, México
| | - Pedro A D Dias
- Primate Behavioral Ecology Lab, Instituto de Neuroetología, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, México
| | - Ariadna Rangel-Negrín
- Primate Behavioral Ecology Lab, Instituto de Neuroetología, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, México
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