Biomagnification means increase in the

Concept

Biomagnification is the progressive increase in the concentration of a persistent contaminant at successively higher trophic levels of a food chain.

It occurs when organisms take in the contaminant from their prey faster than the contaminant is eliminated.

Application

In this item, the quantity that increases is the concentration of pollutants in living organisms, especially in predators at higher trophic levels.

Contrast

• Number of species is species richness; it describes community diversity rather than contaminant transfer.

• Size of living organisms is a physical dimension or body-mass property; it is not the quantity tracked across trophic levels.

• Biomass is the total mass of living material in a population, trophic level, or area; it is distinct from contaminant concentration.

Cross-check

The definition is consistent with food-web transfer: predators can contain a higher contaminant concentration than their prey.

Therefore, biomagnification means an increase in the concentration of pollutants in living organisms.