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!

Sources/Usage: Public Domain.

The EarthWord: Mortality Event

Definition:

• One of the world’s least enjoyable events, a mortality event happens when a lot of animals die off suddenly.

• Many times, these events are unexpected or their cause is difficult to determine.

Etymology:

• Mortality comes from the Latin word mortalitas, meaning “subject to death.”

Use/Significance in the Earth Science Community:

• 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.

• 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:

• The USGS National Wildlife Health Center studies and responds to mortality events, and we work with wildlife managers to prevent events from occurring.

• We report mortality events on the Wildlife Health Information Sharing Partnership or WHISPers map, including date, location, and species affected.

• 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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