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Am J Primatol

Title:		On the trail of primate scent signals: A field analysis of callitrichid scent-gland secretions by portable gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
Author(s):		Poirier AC; Waterhouse JS; Watsa M; Erkenswick GA; Moreira LAA; Tang J; Dunn JC; Melin AD; Smith AC;
Address:		"Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada. School of Life Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK. Population Sustainability, Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, San Diego, California, USA. Field Projects International, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA. Department of Biology, University of Missouri St. Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA. Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA. Biological Anthropology, Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. Department of Medical Genetics and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada"
Journal Title:		Am J Primatol
Year:		2021
Volume:		20210203
Issue:		3
Page Number:		e23236 -
DOI:		10.1002/ajp.23236
ISSN/ISBN:		1098-2345 (Electronic) 0275-2565 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Chemosignals are mediators of social interactions in mammals, providing con- and hetero-specifics with information on fixed (e.g., species, sex, group, and individual identity) and variable (e.g., social, reproductive, and health status) features of the signaler. Yet, methodological difficulties of recording and quantifying odor signals, especially in field conditions, have hampered studies of natural systems. We present the first use of the Torion(R) portable gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) instrument for in situ chemical analysis of primate scents. We collected and analyzed swab samples from the scent glands and skin from 13 groups (57 individuals) of two sympatric species of wild emperor tamarins, Saguinus imperator, and Weddell's saddleback tamarins, Leontocebus weddelli (Callitrichidae). In total, 11 compounds of interest (i.e., probably derived from the animals) could be detected in the samples, with 31 of 215 samples containing at least one compound of interest. The composition of these 31 samples varied systematically with species, group, sex, and breeding status. Moreover, we tentatively identified seven of the compounds of interest as methyl hexanoate, benzaldehyde, ethyl hexanoate, acetophenone, a branched C15 alkane, 4-methoxybenzaldehyde, and hexadecan-1-ol. As the field of primate semiochemistry continues to grow, we believe that portable GC-MS instruments have the potential to help make progress in the study of primate chemosignaling in field conditions, despite limitations that we encountered. We further provide recommendations for future use of the Torion(R) portable GC-MS for in situ analyses"
Keywords:		Animals Bodily Secretions Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry *Odorants/analysis Pheromones *Scent Glands Callitrichidae chemosignaling portable GC-MS scent-marking semiochemicals solid-phase microextraction;
Notes:		"MedlinePoirier, Alice C Waterhouse, John S Watsa, Mrinalini Erkenswick, Gideon A Moreira, Lais A A Tang, Jia Dunn, Jacob C Melin, Amanda D Smith, Andrew C eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2021/02/04 Am J Primatol. 2021 Mar; 83(3):e23236. doi: 10.1002/ajp.23236. Epub 2021 Feb 3"