survivorship curve

views updated May 08 2018

survivorship curve Graphic description of the survival of individuals in a population, from birth to the maximum age attained by any one member. Usually it is plotted as the logarithm of the number of survivors as a function of age. If a population has a constant mortality rate the graph will be a straight line. The technique may also be used to plot the survivorship of whole populations, species, genera, or higher taxa. See also COHORT.

survivorship curve

views updated May 14 2018

survivorship curve A graphical description of the survival of individuals in a population from birth to the maximum age attained by any one member. Usually it is plotted as the logarithm of the number of survivors as a function of age. If a population has a constant mortality rate, the graph will be a straight line.

survivorship curve

views updated May 29 2018

survivorship curve A graphical description of the survival of individuals in a population from birth to the maximum age attained by any one member. Usually it is plotted as the logarithm of the number of survivors as a function of age. If a population has a constant mortality rate the graph will be a straight line.

survivorship curve

views updated May 14 2018

survivorship curve A graphical description of the survival of individuals in a population from birth to the maximum age attained by any one member. Usually it is plotted as the logarithm of the number of survivors as a function of age. If a population has a constant mortality rate the graph will be a straight line.