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.

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.