Do cavity-nesting primates reduce scent marking before retirement to avoid attracting predators to sleeping sites?

Area of Science:

• Primate behavior
• Conservation biology
• Animal communication

Background:

• Endangered golden lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia, GLTs) faced a population decline due to increased predation at sleeping sites.
• Understanding behavioral adaptations is crucial for the survival of this endangered species.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test if golden lion tamarins (GLTs) reduce scent marking before sleeping to mitigate predation risk.
• To investigate if GLTs increase pre-retirement scent marking during the breeding season for reproductive benefits.

Main Methods:

• Behavioral data from eight social groups of golden lion tamarins (GLTs) were analyzed.
• Generalized linear model (GLM) repeated-measures analysis compared scent marking rates.
• Marking rates before retirement were compared between daytime and pre-retirement periods, and across breeding and nonbreeding seasons.

Main Results:

• Contrary to hypotheses, GLTs significantly increased scent marking in the 30 minutes before entering sleeping sites.
• This increase was primarily driven by male tamarins, not females.
• Pre-retirement marking rates were higher in the nonbreeding season compared to the breeding season.

Conclusions:

• GLTs do not decrease scent marking before sleeping to minimize predation risk.
• Scent marking before sleeping is unlikely related to transmitting reproductive status or controlling subordinate reproduction.
• Increased pre-retirement scent marking may help groups quickly return to sleeping sites, potentially reducing predation risk during twilight hours.