Explain and give an example of biomagnification. Identify two key characteristics of toxins that become biomagnified
What will be an ideal response?
When one organism ingests a toxicant, the toxicant may become concentrated within its tissues. When the higher level consumer feeds, it eats multiple organisms at the lower trophic level, consuming magnified quantities of toxin with each feeding. Thus, with every step up the food chain from primary producer to top predator, concentrations of toxicant increase. An example of biomagnification in nature is when birds of prey consume toxic amounts of DDT because they eat big fish which have eaten small fish which have eaten zooplankton which have eaten algae which have ingested small amounts of DDT from polluted water. Another example of biomagnification in nature is seen in polar bears of Svalbard Island in Arctic Norway. Polar bears fed on seals that have already experienced biomagnification of toxicants such as PCBs. Properties that biomagnified toxins have in common is being lipid-soluble and nonbiodegradable or slowly degradable.
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The average elevation of the depth of the oceans is
A) 875 m (2870 ft.). B) -2070 m (-6790 ft.). C) -3800 m (-12,470 ft.). D) 100 m (325 ft.).
Two major approaches to non-fossil-fuel energy alternatives are renewable energy and
A) nuclear power. B) geothermal. C) wind energy. D) solar energy.
Most organisms use water in
A) the form of rain. B) liquid form. C) solid form. D) gaseous form.
In which form are water molecules most closely bonded to each other?
A) water vapor B) liquid water C) solid ice D) water vapor and ice have the same, closest bonds