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Question
Maximum DDT is present in birds feeding on
Maximum DDT is present in birds feeding on
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Solution
The correct option is A Fishes
A few toxic substances, often present in industrial wastewaters, can undergo biological magnification in the aquatic food chain. Biomagnification refers to increase in the concentration of the toxicant at successive trophic levels. This happens because a toxic substance accumulated by an organism cannot be metabolised or excreted, and is thus passed on to the next higher trophic level. This phenomenon is well known for mercury and DDT. The concentration of DDT is increased at successive trophic levels. For example, if it starts at 0.003 ppb (ppb = parts per billion) in water, it can ultimately reach 25 ppm (ppm = parts per million) in fish-eating birds, through biomagnification. High concentrations of DDT disturb calcium metabolism in birds, which causes thinning of eggshell and their premature breaking, eventually causing a decline in bird populations.
A few toxic substances, often present in industrial wastewaters, can undergo biological magnification in the aquatic food chain. Biomagnification refers to increase in the concentration of the toxicant at successive trophic levels. This happens because a toxic substance accumulated by an organism cannot be metabolised or excreted, and is thus passed on to the next higher trophic level. This phenomenon is well known for mercury and DDT. The concentration of DDT is increased at successive trophic levels. For example, if it starts at 0.003 ppb (ppb = parts per billion) in water, it can ultimately reach 25 ppm (ppm = parts per million) in fish-eating birds, through biomagnification.
High concentrations of DDT disturb calcium metabolism in birds, which causes thinning of eggshell and their premature breaking, eventually causing a decline in bird populations.
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