Which term refers to the increasing concentration of toxins within each successive link in the food chain?

Key Points

• Biomagnification refers to the increasing concentration of toxins within each successive link in the food chain.
• This phenomenon occurs because pollutants or toxins are ingested by organisms at the base of the food chain and then accumulate in higher concentrations as they move up the chain.
• Top predators, such as large fish, birds, and mammals, often have the highest concentrations of toxins.
• Examples of substances that biomagnify include mercury, DDT, and PCBs.
• Biomagnification can have severe ecological and health impacts, affecting wildlife and human populations.

Additional Information

• Denitrification is a process in the nitrogen cycle where nitrate is reduced and ultimately produces nitrogen gas (N₂), returning it to the atmosphere.
• Facilitation is a process where one species has a positive effect on the survival and reproduction of another species without the involvement of symbiotic relationships.
• Stratification refers to the layering that occurs in most aquatic ecosystems or the vertical layering in forests.