What is Biomagnification?
'''Biological magnification''' or '''biomagnification''' is the increase in concentration of a substance. A [[pesticide]], for example, may increase in the [[tissue (biology)|tissues]] of organisms.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Wildlife Techniques Manual: Research|publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press|year=2012|isbn=978-1-4214-0159-1|editor-last=Silvy|editor-first=Nova J.|edition=7th|volume=1|location=Baltimore, Maryland|pages=154–155}}</ref> This increase can occur as a result of: * Persistence – where the substance cannot be broken down by environmental processes * [[Food chain]] [[bioenergetics|energetics]] – where the substance's concentration increases progressively as it moves up a food chain * Low or non-existent rate of internal degradation or excretion of the substance. [[File:The build up of toxins in a food chain.svg|thumb|Biomagnification is the buildup of concentration of a substance (x) in a food chain. For example the DDT concentration in parts per million increases with trophic level. Concentrations build up in organism's fat and tissue. Predators accumulate higher levels than prey. ]] [[Pesticide|Pesticides]] or [[heavy metals]] work their way into lakes, rivers and the ocean. They may move up the food chain in progressively greater concentrations as they are eaten by aquatic organisms such as [[zooplankton]], which in turn are eaten perhaps by fish, which then may be eaten by bigger fish, large birds, animals, or humans. The substances become increasingly concentrated in tissues or internal organs as they move up the chain. Bioaccumulants are substances that increase in concentration in living organisms as they take in '''contaminated air, water, or food''' because the substances are very slowly metabolized or excreted. == References == {{reflist}} {{-}} {{biology-stub}} [[Category:Ecology]] [[Category:Pesticides]]