biomagnified
Up food chain
Biomagnified describes a substance that has accumulated to higher concentrations as it moves up the food chain.
Toxins like mercury or DDT become biomagnified when small organisms absorb them, are eaten by larger predators, which are eaten by still larger ones—each level concentrating the substance further: PCBs biomagnified in the fish, making them unsafe to eat.
Liquid metallic element
- DDTBanned chlorinated insecticide
- PCBsBanned synthetic toxins
- heavy metalsDense metallic environmental contaminants
- pesticidesChemicals destroying harmful organisms
cadmium · lead · arsenic · dioxins · neurotoxins · carcinogens · methylmercury · flame retardants
Dominant hunters, no natural enemies
- bioaccumulationPollutant concentration in tissues
- energy transferPower moving between systems
- predationHunting and consuming prey
- preyAnimal being hunted
carnivore · herbivore · omnivore · plankton · zooplankton · fish · birds · mammals
Dominant hunters, no natural enemies
- endangered speciesOrganisms facing extinction risk
- aquatic ecosystemsWater-based biological communities
- marine mammalsWarm-blooded ocean animals
- population declineDecreasing number of inhabitants
tissue sampling · chronic exposure · Rachel Carson · Silent Spring · polar bears · orcas · seals · eagles
mercury
Liquid metallic element
- DDTBanned chlorinated insecticide
- PCBsBanned synthetic toxins
- heavy metalsDense metallic environmental contaminants
pesticides · cadmium · lead · arsenic · dioxins · neurotoxins · carcinogens · methylmercury · flame retardants · industrial chemicals
apex predators
Dominant hunters, no natural enemies
- bioaccumulationPollutant concentration in tissues
- energy transferPower moving between systems
- predationHunting and consuming prey
prey · carnivore · herbivore · omnivore · plankton · zooplankton · fish · birds · mammals · invertebrates
apex predators
Dominant hunters, no natural enemies
- endangered speciesOrganisms facing extinction risk
- aquatic ecosystemsWater-based biological communities
- marine mammalsWarm-blooded ocean animals
population decline · tissue sampling · chronic exposure · Rachel Carson · Silent Spring · polar bears · orcas · seals · eagles · osprey
biomagnifieddiluted
Made weaker by adding liquid
attenuated · dispersed · excreted · eliminated · biodegraded
biomagnifiedbiodegraded
Decayed through microbial action
broken down · metabolized · decomposed · degradable · labile