The increase in the concentration of toxic substances at successive trophic…
2023
The increase in the concentration of toxic substances at successive trophic levels is referred to as
Answer: B. biomagnification — ConceptBiomagnification is the progressive increase in the concentration of a persistent toxic substance at successive trophic levels of a food chain. It…
- A.
eutrophication
- B.
biomagnification
- C.
bioaccumulation
- D.
More than one of the above
- E.
None of the above
Attempted by 2 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Concept
Biomagnification is the progressive increase in the concentration of a persistent toxic substance at successive trophic levels of a food chain.
It differs from bioaccumulation, which is the build-up of a substance within one organism over time, and from eutrophication, which is nutrient enrichment of a water body.
Application
The stem explicitly compares successive trophic levels. As contaminated organisms are eaten, persistent pollutants are transferred and may become more concentrated at higher trophic levels; this process is biomagnification.
Contrast
Eutrophication: excess nutrients stimulate algal growth and may reduce dissolved oxygen; it is not a trophic-level concentration sequence.
Bioaccumulation: a contaminant builds up within an individual organism during its lifetime.
The set-level choices apply only if more than one listed term, or no listed term, fits the definition.
Cross-check
The phrase successive trophic levels is the diagnostic clue: movement up a food chain indicates biomagnification, whereas build-up within one organism indicates bioaccumulation.
Therefore, the process is biomagnification.