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Biomagnification

Definition

Biomagnification refers to the increasing concentration of toxic substances as they move up through different trophic levels in a food chain. Organisms at higher trophic levels accumulate greater amounts of these substances due to consuming prey with accumulated toxins.

Analogy

Think of biomagnification as playing a game of "Toxic Hot Potato." Each player represents a different trophic level, passing around a potato covered in toxic paint. As each player receives and passes on the potato, more layers of toxic paint accumulate until it becomes highly concentrated in players at higher levels.

Related terms

Bioaccumulation: Bioaccumulation is the process by which toxins or pollutants build up in an organism's tissues over time. Biomagnification is a specific type of bioaccumulation that occurs as substances become more concentrated at higher trophic levels.

Trophic Level: A trophic level refers to the position of an organism in a food chain or web. It represents its feeding relationship and energy transfer within an ecosystem.

Top Predators: Top predators are organisms at the highest trophic level in a food chain or web. They often accumulate the highest concentrations of toxic substances due to biomagnification.