Group size effects on inter-blink interval as an indicator of antipredator vigilance in wild baboons

Vigilance in animals is an important means for predator detection. Animals living in groups reduce their predation risk as more individuals are present. In contrast to most other animals studied, many studies on primates do not support the prediction that individual vigilance will decline as group size increases. For animals to obtain visual information during vigilance behaviour, their eyes must be open. Therefore, if animals are able to perceive differential risk of predation, the inter-blink interval (eye-opening) should increase, and the blink duration (eye-closure) should decrease under higher predation risk. We tested this prediction by measuring inter-blink interval in wild anubis baboons (Papio anubis) in peripheral and centre individuals within a group, and between larger and smaller groups. We found that the inter-blink interval for young males, often located at the front edge of the group, was longer than that of adult males, adult females, and young females, often located in the center of the group, and that the inter-blink interval for adult males was longer when the group was smaller. These results suggest that inter-blink interval can be used as an indicator of primate vigilance toward predators.