Mortality
Definition
Mortality refers to the rate at which individuals in a population die. It is an important factor in determining population size and dynamics.
Analogy
Think of mortality as a game of musical chairs. The number of chairs represents the resources available for survival, and each time the music stops, one individual is eliminated from the game.
Related terms
Survivorship: The proportion of individuals that survive to a given age or stage in a population.
Life expectancy: The average number of years an individual is expected to live based on current mortality rates.
Mortality rate: The number of deaths per unit of population over a specific period of time.
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