What is bio magnification and how this affects marine ecosystems?
What is bio magnification and how this affects marine ecosystems?
Biomagnification stands for Biological Magnification, which means the increase of contaminated substances or toxic chemicals that take place in the food chains. These substances often arise from intoxicated or contaminated environments. The contaminants include heavy metals namely mercury, arsenic, pesticides such as DDT, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) compounds which are then taken up by organisms because of the food they consume or the intoxication of their environment.
Biological magnication often refers to the process whereby certain substances such as pesticides or heavy metals move up the food chain, work their way into rivers or lakes, and are eaten by aquatic organisms such as sh, which in turn are eaten by large birds, animals or humans. Biological Magnication is when a chemical is magnied in a food chain. For instance, if a grasshopper eats a plant infected with pesticides, then a sh eats that grasshopper, then a eagle eats that sh. Biological Magnication means that the eagle will suffer a greater dose of that pesticide than the grasshopper did.
Process of Biomagnification Biomagnification process occurs when certain toxic chemicals and pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) compounds go up the food chain by working their way through the environment and into the soil or the water systems after which they are eaten by aquatic animals or plants, which in turn are consumed by animals, humans, and large birds. Eventually, these substances increase in concentration in the organisms as they move up the food chain because they are slowly excreted or metabolized/broken down.
Here is an explanation showing the process of biomagnification:
- Release of toxic chemicals and pollutants into the environment
The process begins with the release of toxic chemicals and pollutants into the environment and eventually works their way into soils, rivers or lakes, and the seas. The concentration of these toxic chemicals and pollutants seem to be very low when released in different environments. They are very minute even in terms of weight.
- Phytoplankton
Phytoplankton refers to small plants that float in the seas that normally absorb toxins. Once absorbed, the toxins stay in their tissues without being excreted or broken down. With time, the toxins accumulate to high concentrations up to 200 parts a trillion which represents a toxin accumulation increase by about four fold.
- Zooplankton
Zooplankton refers to small marine animals that float in the seas. They consume the phytoplankton and thus take in the toxin. The toxins stay locked in the organism’s tissue without being excreted or broken down. Over time, the toxin concentration increases up to two parts per billion which represents about a ten-fold increase over the previous concentration.
- Small fish consume the zooplankton
Whenever the small fish feed on the zooplanktons, they consequently take up the toxins which get absorbed in their fatty tissues. As a result, accumulation occurs and the concentrations build up to about 20 parts per billion which is another ten-fold increase.
- Large fish graze on the smaller fish
Again, when the large fish graze on the smaller fish for food, they consume the toxins that accumulate in their fatty tissues. The concentrations become higher up to ranges of 80 to 100 parts per billion. This is about four to five fold increase in the toxic levels.
- The top food chain organisms consumes the fish
The organisms at the top of the food chain including the marine mammals such as dolphin, sea birds, and humans gradually build up the toxins in their tissues such as their liver when they consume the large fish. The levels of concentrations here increase to the highest ranges of 10,000 to 15,000 parts per billion. The results impact the animal’s fertility and make them vulnerable to diseases as they interfere with the normal functioning of vital organs.
Effects of biomagnification
Biological magnification, or biomagnification, occurs when pollutants taken up by organisms at the base of the food chain reach high concentrations in the bodies of animals at the top of the food chain. Effects of biomagnification vary widely depending on the pollutant, organism and ecosystem in question.
Persistent Pollutants
Some pollutants, including those made up of a single element and certain man-made chemicals, are persistent in nature, meaning they do not readily biodegrade. A primary producer like a plant or alga can absorb persistent pollutants that are chemically similar to nutrients required for its growth. If that material is still in the plant when it is eaten by the next organism up the food chain, that organism will likely absorb more of the toxin over time as it consumes multiple plants. Carnivores who consume multiple animals in the area will absorb more yet.
Buildup in Fats Some pollutants are quickly expelled from the body, but those that are fat-soluble are stored in the lipids of an organism and can only be removed through the action of specified enzymes. If this organism lacks such enzymes, or if the rate of uptake of a particular lipid-soluble pollutant is greater than its enzymatic removal, the substance will build up in the body of the organism. This narrows pollutants that biomagnify to two categories: metals and persistent organic pollutants. DDT is a well-known example of the latter.
Ecological Process A pollutant building up in the lipids of a primary producer may never reach high enough concentrations to harm that organism in any way. This is where the key concept of biological magnification comes into play. Organisms higher in the food chain contain higher concentrations of pollutants than those lower in the food chain. When a pollutant reaches a certain concentration within a particular organism, it begins to decrease the function of and even permanently damage various body systems.
Effects on Organism Organisms at the top of the food chain are at a greater risk of damage due to biomagnification. Mercury, for example, damages the nervous, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems. Mercury poisoning is of particular concern to unborn fetuses and young children, which is why pregnant and nursing mothers are encouraged to avoid fish, which often contain high levels of mercury. Organisms at the top of the food chain are affected by variety of persistent organic pollutants that are carcinogenic and toxic to the reproductive, nervous and immune systems. DDT, for example, can cause sterility and thin eggshells in birds of prey.
Biomagnification stands for Biological Magnification, which means the increase of contaminated substances or toxic chemicals that take place in the food chains. These substances often arise from intoxicated or contaminated environments. The contaminants include heavy metals namely mercury, arsenic, pesticides such as DDT, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) compounds which are then taken up by organisms because of the food they consume or the intoxication of their environment.
Biological magnication often refers to the process whereby certain substances such as pesticides or heavy metals move up the food chain, work their way into rivers or lakes, and are eaten by aquatic organisms such as sh, which in turn are eaten by large birds, animals or humans. Biological Magnication is when a chemical is magnied in a food chain. For instance, if a grasshopper eats a plant infected with pesticides, then a sh eats that grasshopper, then a eagle eats that sh. Biological Magnication means that the eagle will suffer a greater dose of that pesticide than the grasshopper did.
Biomagnification process occurs when certain toxic chemicals and pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) compounds go up the food chain by working their way through the environment and into the soil or the water systems after which they are eaten by aquatic animals or plants, which in turn are consumed by animals, humans, and large birds. Eventually, these substances increase in concentration in the organisms as they move up the food chain because they are slowly excreted or metabolized/broken down.
Here is an explanation showing the process of biomagnification:
- Release of toxic chemicals and pollutants into the environment
The process begins with the release of toxic chemicals and pollutants into the environment and eventually works their way into soils, rivers or lakes, and the seas. The concentration of these toxic chemicals and pollutants seem to be very low when released in different environments. They are very minute even in terms of weight.
- Phytoplankton
Phytoplankton refers to small plants that float in the seas that normally absorb toxins. Once absorbed, the toxins stay in their tissues without being excreted or broken down. With time, the toxins accumulate to high concentrations up to 200 parts a trillion which represents a toxin accumulation increase by about four fold.
- Zooplankton
Zooplankton refers to small marine animals that float in the seas. They consume the phytoplankton and thus take in the toxin. The toxins stay locked in the organism’s tissue without being excreted or broken down. Over time, the toxin concentration increases up to two parts per billion which represents about a ten-fold increase over the previous concentration.
- Small fish consume the zooplankton
Whenever the small fish feed on the zooplanktons, they consequently take up the toxins which get absorbed in their fatty tissues. As a result, accumulation occurs and the concentrations build up to about 20 parts per billion which is another ten-fold increase.
- Large fish graze on the smaller fish
Again, when the large fish graze on the smaller fish for food, they consume the toxins that accumulate in their fatty tissues. The concentrations become higher up to ranges of 80 to 100 parts per billion. This is about four to five fold increase in the toxic levels.
- The top food chain organisms consumes the fish
The organisms at the top of the food chain including the marine mammals such as dolphin, sea birds, and humans gradually build up the toxins in their tissues such as their liver when they consume the large fish. The levels of concentrations here increase to the highest ranges of 10,000 to 15,000 parts per billion. The results impact the animal’s fertility and make them vulnerable to diseases as they interfere with the normal functioning of vital organs.
Effects of biomagnification
Biological magnification, or biomagnification, occurs when pollutants taken up by organisms at the base of the food chain reach high concentrations in the bodies of animals at the top of the food chain. Effects of biomagnification vary widely depending on the pollutant, organism and ecosystem in question.
Persistent Pollutants
Some pollutants, including those made up of a single element and certain man-made chemicals, are persistent in nature, meaning they do not readily biodegrade. A primary producer like a plant or alga can absorb persistent pollutants that are chemically similar to nutrients required for its growth. If that material is still in the plant when it is eaten by the next organism up the food chain, that organism will likely absorb more of the toxin over time as it consumes multiple plants. Carnivores who consume multiple animals in the area will absorb more yet.
Buildup in FatsSome pollutants are quickly expelled from the body, but those that are fat-soluble are stored in the lipids of an organism and can only be removed through the action of specified enzymes. If this organism lacks such enzymes, or if the rate of uptake of a particular lipid-soluble pollutant is greater than its enzymatic removal, the substance will build up in the body of the organism. This narrows pollutants that biomagnify to two categories: metals and persistent organic pollutants. DDT is a well-known example of the latter.
Ecological ProcessA pollutant building up in the lipids of a primary producer may never reach high enough concentrations to harm that organism in any way. This is where the key concept of biological magnification comes into play. Organisms higher in the food chain contain higher concentrations of pollutants than those lower in the food chain. When a pollutant reaches a certain concentration within a particular organism, it begins to decrease the function of and even permanently damage various body systems.
Effects on OrganismOrganisms at the top of the food chain are at a greater risk of damage due to biomagnification. Mercury, for example, damages the nervous, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems. Mercury poisoning is of particular concern to unborn fetuses and young children, which is why pregnant and nursing mothers are encouraged to avoid fish, which often contain high levels of mercury. Organisms at the top of the food chain are affected by variety of persistent organic pollutants that are carcinogenic and toxic to the reproductive, nervous and immune systems. DDT, for example, can cause sterility and thin eggshells in birds of prey.
