Question

Do you think agrochemicals can be biomagnified in terrestrial ecosystems?

Answer 1

Part 1: Agrochemicals
Agrochemicals are insecticides and pesticides used in agriculture. They can come with runoff from the fields and enter the water bodies. These chemicals are not always species-specific and therefore can harm other biotic components.

Part 2: Biomagnification
The increase in the concentration of a toxic non-biodegradable chemical in successive trophic levels is called biomagnification. Biomagnification happens in the following ways:-

• Chemicals from fields can run off into water sources nearby.
• These chemicals get concentrated in the phytoplanktons.
• When the phytoplanktons are eaten, these chemicals then accumulate in the tissues of the primary consumers.
• As the food chain progresses, the accumulation is more in the bodies of the organisms.
• Ultimately the highest concentration of the chemical is found in the top carnivore.