AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Biomagnification increases the concentration of toxic substances in organisms at higher trophic levels. DDT is an example of a substance that biomagnifies; birds accumulate sufficient amounts of DDT from eating fish to cause adverse effects on bird populations.

Detailed explanation-2: -Biomagnification refers to the condition where the chemical concentration in an organism exceeds the concentration of its food when the major exposure route occurs from the organism’s diet.

Detailed explanation-3: -Biomagnification is the buildup of concentration of a substance (x) in a food chain. For example the DDT concentration in parts per million increases with trophic level. Concentrations build up in organism’s fat and tissue. Predators accumulate higher levels than prey.

Detailed explanation-4: -The accumulation and progressive increase in the concentration of non-biodegradable, harmful chemicals at different trophic levels in a food chain is called bioconcentration or biomagnification.

Detailed explanation-5: -Tertiary consumers form the highest trophic level. The amount of non-biodegradable toxic substances accumulated within an organism’s body increases higher up the food chain, or as we go higher up the trophic levels.