Comparative mortality levels among selected species of captive animals
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
2006 |
Authors: |
Iliana V. Kohler, Samuel H. Preston, Laurie Bingaman Lackey |
Publication/Journal: |
Demographic Research |
Keywords: |
captive mammals, isis, life table, mortality, survivorship |
Abstract:
We present life tables by single year of age and sex for groups of animals and for 42 individual mostly mammalian species. Data are derived from the International Species Information System. The survivorship of most of these species has never been mapped systematically. We demonstrate that, in most of the groups, female survivorship significantly exceeds that of males above age five. Wild-born animals do not have mortality that differs significantly from captive-born animals. While most species have mortality that rises with age above the juvenile stage, there are several groups for which the age pattern of mortality is nearly level.