AP BIOLOGY

ECOLOGY

HUMANS AND THE BIOSPHERE

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
In a food chain, concentrations of harmful substances increase in higher trophic levels in a process known as
A
biological magnification.
B
genetic drift.
C
pesticide resistance.
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -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. The accumulation of DDT in fishes and fish-eating birds is a classic example of biomagnification.

Detailed explanation-2: -Biomagnification is the process by which toxic chemicals build up within predators. This typically occurs across an entire food chain and affects all of the organisms but animals higher up in the chain are more impacted.

Detailed explanation-3: -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-4: -Biomagnification, also known as bioamplification or biological magnification, is the increase in concentration of a substance, e.g a pesticide, in the tissues of organisms at successively higher levels in a food chain.

Detailed explanation-5: -Biomagnification, also known as bioamplification or biological magnification or bioaccumulation, is the increasing concentration of a substance such as a toxic chemical in the tissues of organisms at successively higher levels in a food chain.

There is 1 question to complete.