A researcher measures the amount of mercury (a persistant toxic chemical) in the fish of a lake ecosystem.  The concentration of mercury is 10 times higher in the tertiary consumer fish species compared to the amount in the primary consumer fish species.  A) Explain this result using the term bioaccumulation and biomagnification.   B) If a bear eats mainly the tertiary consumer fish from this lake, how would you expect the mercury concentration in the bear to compare to the fish?

Concepts of Biology
1st Edition
ISBN:9781938168116
Author:Samantha Fowler, Rebecca Roush, James Wise
Publisher:Samantha Fowler, Rebecca Roush, James Wise
Chapter20: Ecosystems And The Biosphere
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Problem 1ACQ: Figure 20.12 Which of the following statements about the nitrogen cycle is false? a. Ammonification...
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A researcher measures the amount of mercury (a persistant toxic chemical) in the fish of a lake ecosystem.  The concentration of mercury is 10 times higher in the tertiary consumer fish species compared to the amount in the primary consumer fish species. 

A) Explain this result using the term bioaccumulation and biomagnification.  

B) If a bear eats mainly the tertiary consumer fish from this lake, how would you expect the mercury concentration in the bear to compare to the fish?

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