Answer – Biological magnification refers to the phenomenon where organisms tend to accumulate chemicals or substances in concentrations higher than their external environment and organisms that subsist on lower trophic levels of the food chain.
Explanation:
Biological magnification is an important concept that explains the higher concentrations of contaminants in organisms that subsist on the higher levels of the food chain in their respective ecosystems. Contaminants and toxins such as pesticides or heavy metals such as Arsenic can be ingested by consumers on the bottom rungs of the food chain. The contaminants build up within the cells of these organisms, which are eventually consumed by others higher up on the food chain. The subsequent organism receives a higher concentration of the contaminant compared to its environment due to the built-up levels of contaminants within the cells of its prey. The process continues throughout the food chain, with the organisms at the top accumulating the highest levels of contaminants.
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