See a flock of birds fall from the sky? There’s an #EarthWord for that, and it isn’t “apocalypse”
EarthWord–Mortality Event
USGS EarthWord of the Week
EarthWords is an on-going series in which we shed some light on the complicated, often difficult-to-pronounce language of science. Think of us as your terminology tour-guides, and meet us back here every week for a new word!
The EarthWord: Mortality Event
Definition:
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One of the world’s least enjoyable events, a mortality event happens when a lot of animals die off suddenly.
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Many times, these events are unexpected or their cause is difficult to determine.
Etymology:
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Mortality comes from the Latin word mortalitas, meaning “subject to death.”
Use/Significance in the Earth Science Community:
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Mortality events play a significant role in wildlife epidemiology. Scientists attempt to determine the cause of mortality events to see if a disease is the cause, human activity, or some other reason.
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For endangered species, mortality events can significantly threaten the population, as there may not be enough surviving individuals to form a viable population.
USGS Use:
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The USGS National Wildlife Health Center studies and responds to mortality events, and we work with wildlife managers to prevent events from occurring.
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We report mortality events on the Wildlife Health Information Sharing Partnership or WHISPers map, including date, location, and species affected.
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If you see sick or dead wildlife, please do not handle; we recommend that you contact your state natural resources agency.
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