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What is biomagnification?


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Biomagnification:

  1. It is also known as biological magnification.
  2. The term "biomagnification" refers to the increase in the toxicant concentration at successive trophic levels.
  3. When a toxic substance that an organism has collected cannot be digested or removed, it goes to the next higher trophic level.
  4. For example - DDT biomagnification in the aquatic food chain.
  5. Through biomagnification, DDT concentrations are increased at successive trophic levels.
  6. For example, a concentration of 0.003 ppb (parts per billion) in water can rise to 25 ppm (parts per million) in fish-eating birds.
  7. DDT at high levels disrupts calcium metabolism in birds, causing eggshell thinning and premature breakage, eventually leading to a bird population decrease.

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