Question

What is meant by biomagnification?

• A. Increase in body weight of an organism
• B. Increase in growth of plant tissues
• C. Increase in harmful chemicals at each trophic level
• D. Increase in number of plants and animals in a region

Hint:

Toxic substances magnify up the food chain, affecting top predators most — this is biomagnification.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Biomagnification refers to the process by which the concentration of harmful chemicals increases at each successive trophic level in a food chain. As these toxic substances, often pesticides or heavy metals, enter an ecosystem, they are absorbed by organisms at the lowest trophic levels, such as plants or small aquatic creatures. As these organisms are consumed by predators, the concentration of the chemicals increases because the pollutants are persistent and accumulate in fat tissues rather than being expelled. Over time, apex predators living at the top of the food chain have the highest concentrations of these harmful chemicals. This phenomenon poses significant ecological and health concerns as it can lead to toxic levels in organisms, impacting their survival and reproduction. Therefore, it's critical to monitor and minimize the use of persistent pollutants to prevent adverse environmental impacts.