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As urban areas continue to expand, their human inhabitants spread all sorts of pollution: air pollution, light pollution, even noise pollution. Each of these environmental encroachments affects the survival and behavior of local wildlife. And monkeys are no exception. 

 

Scientists in Brazil were studying how marmosets in a city park cope with ambient noise. And they found that the monkeys tend to settle down in whatever part of the park is most quiet. On weekdays, the marmosets steered¹ clear of the roar of traffic, and on Sundays they shunned² the clamor of visiting crowds. They dodged³ all the din⁴, even when moving meant that they had to leave behind the places that offered them the most food. 

 

It could be that the monkeys are just skittish⁵ when it comes to unwelcome sounds. Or maybe they can't hear what their friends are saying when it gets too loud. Either way, next time you see a cute little marmoset, forget "oooh" or "awwww" or "ee-ee-ee." Try shhhh.

 

Thanks for the minute. For Scientific American's 60-Second Science, I'm Karen Hopkin.

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