Generally, animals that are lower in the food chain are more likely to die during their earlier life stages. This is because they are more vulnerable to predation and other environmental factors, such as changes in temperature, water availability, and food availability.
For example, many species of small fish and invertebrates are important food sources for larger predatory fish and birds. These smaller animals may have high mortality rates during their larval or juvenile stages, when they are still developing and growing and are not yet able to effectively avoid predators or find enough food.
In contrast, larger predators at the top of the food chain tend to have lower mortality rates during their early life stages, as they are less likely to be preyed upon and have already survived the vulnerable early stages of their prey. However, larger predators may face other challenges later in life, such as competition for resources, disease, or environmental changes.