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What phenomenon describes the progressive accumulation of harmful chemicals in organisms at each trophic level?
- a)Biological synthesis
- b)Ecological transference
- c)Trophic magnification
- d)Chemical escalation
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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What phenomenon describes the progressive accumulation of harmful che...
- Trophic magnification, also known as biological magnification, refers to the process by which certain chemicals become more concentrated in organisms as they move up the food chain. This occurs because these chemicals are not easily broken down or excreted, leading to higher concentrations as they are passed from one trophic level to the next.
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What phenomenon describes the progressive accumulation of harmful che...
Explanation:
Trophic Magnification:
Trophic magnification is the phenomenon that describes the progressive accumulation of harmful chemicals in organisms at each trophic level in a food chain or food web.
How it works:
- When organisms at the lower trophic levels consume food or water containing toxic chemicals, these chemicals are absorbed and stored in their bodies.
- As organisms at higher trophic levels consume these contaminated organisms as food, they not only accumulate the chemicals present in their prey but also the chemicals that have accumulated in all the organisms that the prey has consumed.
- This leads to a magnification of the concentration of these harmful chemicals at each successive trophic level, as the chemicals are not easily eliminated from the organisms' bodies.
Implications:
- Trophic magnification can result in higher concentrations of toxins in top predators, such as apex predators like eagles or sharks, compared to the concentrations found in organisms at lower trophic levels.
- This can have detrimental effects on the health and reproduction of these top predators, as well as other wildlife and even humans who may consume contaminated organisms.
Examples:
- A classic example of trophic magnification is the biomagnification of mercury in aquatic ecosystems, where small fish accumulate mercury from water contaminated by industrial pollutants, and larger fish that consume these smaller fish end up with even higher concentrations of mercury in their bodies.
In conclusion, trophic magnification is an important ecological concept that highlights the potential risks associated with the bioaccumulation of harmful chemicals in food chains and emphasizes the need for sustainable environmental practices to mitigate these risks.
Trophic Magnification:
Trophic magnification is the phenomenon that describes the progressive accumulation of harmful chemicals in organisms at each trophic level in a food chain or food web.
How it works:
- When organisms at the lower trophic levels consume food or water containing toxic chemicals, these chemicals are absorbed and stored in their bodies.
- As organisms at higher trophic levels consume these contaminated organisms as food, they not only accumulate the chemicals present in their prey but also the chemicals that have accumulated in all the organisms that the prey has consumed.
- This leads to a magnification of the concentration of these harmful chemicals at each successive trophic level, as the chemicals are not easily eliminated from the organisms' bodies.
Implications:
- Trophic magnification can result in higher concentrations of toxins in top predators, such as apex predators like eagles or sharks, compared to the concentrations found in organisms at lower trophic levels.
- This can have detrimental effects on the health and reproduction of these top predators, as well as other wildlife and even humans who may consume contaminated organisms.
Examples:
- A classic example of trophic magnification is the biomagnification of mercury in aquatic ecosystems, where small fish accumulate mercury from water contaminated by industrial pollutants, and larger fish that consume these smaller fish end up with even higher concentrations of mercury in their bodies.
In conclusion, trophic magnification is an important ecological concept that highlights the potential risks associated with the bioaccumulation of harmful chemicals in food chains and emphasizes the need for sustainable environmental practices to mitigate these risks.
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What phenomenon describes the progressive accumulation of harmful chemicals in organisms at each trophic level?a)Biological synthesisb)Ecological transferencec)Trophic magnificationd)Chemical escalationCorrect answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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What phenomenon describes the progressive accumulation of harmful chemicals in organisms at each trophic level?a)Biological synthesisb)Ecological transferencec)Trophic magnificationd)Chemical escalationCorrect answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? for UPSC 2024 is part of UPSC preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the UPSC exam syllabus. Information about What phenomenon describes the progressive accumulation of harmful chemicals in organisms at each trophic level?a)Biological synthesisb)Ecological transferencec)Trophic magnificationd)Chemical escalationCorrect answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for UPSC 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for What phenomenon describes the progressive accumulation of harmful chemicals in organisms at each trophic level?a)Biological synthesisb)Ecological transferencec)Trophic magnificationd)Chemical escalationCorrect answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?.
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