What is biological magnification? Will the levels of this magnification be different at different levels of the ecosystem? [3 MARKS]
What is biological magnification? Will the levels of this magnification be different at different levels of the ecosystem? [3 MARKS]
Each point: 1 Mark
1. The accumulation of a particular substance through different trophic levels is called biological magnification.
2. Let us take the example of lead poisoning which may affect plants because of water pollution.The level of lead would be at a particular level in plants.
3. When an herbivore would eat these plants, the level of lead shall be more in the body of herbivore because it would eat a large number of plants. When this herbivore would be eaten by a carnivore, the level shall rise further because the carnivore would eat a large number of herbivores. Hence the level of this magnification will increase as we move to higher trophic levels.
Each point: 1 Mark
1. The accumulation of a particular substance through different trophic levels is called biological magnification.
2. Let us take the example of lead poisoning which may affect plants because of water pollution.The level of lead would be at a particular level in plants.
3. When an herbivore would eat these plants, the level of lead shall be more in the body of herbivore because it would eat a large number of plants. When this herbivore would be eaten by a carnivore, the level shall rise further because the carnivore would eat a large number of herbivores. Hence the level of this magnification will increase as we move to higher trophic levels.
