They consume organisms from lower trophic levels, accumulating higher toxin concentrations.

Bioaccumulation is within one organism; biomagnification is across the food chain.

They absorb toxins and pass them up the food chain when consumed.

It causes thinning of eggshells, leading to population declines.

Warmer ocean temperatures increase mercury conversion and fish metabolism, leading to higher levels.

DDT persists in the environment and can still affect ecosystems and disrupt food chains.

Loss of keystone species due to biomagnification can have cascading effects.

Nervous system damage, developmental issues, reproductive failure, and behavioral changes.

Pollutants can travel long distances and affect ecosystems far from the source.

Contaminates seafood and other food sources, posing health risks.

Buildup of substances in an organism's tissues over its lifetime.

Increase in toxin concentration as you move up the food chain.

Top predator in a food chain, often with the highest toxin concentrations.

Species with a disproportionately large impact on their environment.

Organic form of mercury that bioaccumulates and biomagnifies.

A widely used pesticide in the mid-20th century, now banned in the U.S.

Each step in a food chain or food web.

A pollutant that remains in the environment for a long time.

A linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another.

Persistent Organic Pollutant; toxic chemicals that adversely affect human health and the environment around the world.

1. Toxins enter the ecosystem. 2. Small organisms absorb toxins. 3. Larger organisms consume smaller organisms, accumulating toxins. 4. Concentration increases at each trophic level. 5. Apex predators have the highest concentrations.

1. Inorganic mercury enters the environment. 2. Bacteria convert inorganic mercury into methylmercury. 3. Methylmercury is absorbed by small organisms. 4. Methylmercury biomagnifies up the food chain.

1. DDT was sprayed on water. 2. Algae absorbed DDT. 3. Small fish consumed algae. 4. Larger fish consumed small fish. 5. Birds of prey consumed larger fish. 6. DDT caused thinning of eggshells.

1. Pollutants enter the environment. 2. Producers (e.g., plants, algae) absorb the pollutants. 3. Primary consumers eat the producers. 4. Secondary consumers eat the primary consumers. 5. The pollutant concentration increases at each level.

1. Toxins dissolve in water. 2. Aquatic organisms absorb toxins through gills or skin. 3. Toxins accumulate in fatty tissues. 4. Organisms are consumed by predators, transferring the toxins.

1. Fish is exposed to toxins in water or food. 2. Toxins enter the fish's body. 3. Toxins are stored in the fish's tissues (especially fat). 4. Toxin levels increase over the fish's lifetime.

1. Warmer temperatures increase bacterial activity. 2. Increased bacterial activity accelerates the conversion of mercury to methylmercury. 3. Warmer waters increase fish metabolism. 4. Fish accumulate higher levels of methylmercury.

1. Pollutant enters the ecosystem. 2. Pollutant bioaccumulates in organisms. 3. Pollutant biomagnifies up the food chain. 4. Keystone species are affected. 5. Ecosystem structure and function are disrupted.

1. DDT interferes with calcium metabolism in birds. 2. Less calcium is available for eggshell production. 3. Eggshells become thinner and more fragile. 4. Eggs break easily, reducing hatching success.

1. Pollutants enter the soil. 2. Plants absorb pollutants. 3. Herbivores consume plants. 4. Carnivores consume herbivores. 5. Apex predators consume carnivores, accumulating high pollutant concentrations.