Per. 3 Science

Bioaccumulation

Gradual build-up of chemicals within an organism's body over time.

Biomagnification

The concentration of harmful substances increases at each level of the food chain.

DDT

A man-made chemical that is non-degradable and accumulates in fat cells, persisting in food chains and causing harm to organisms.

PCBs

Persistent environmental contaminants that can accumulate in living organisms.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population size of a species that an ecosystem can support.

Increased Competition

More competition for resources like food, water, shelter, and space due to higher population density.

Increased Crowding

Leads to higher susceptibility to predation and disease among organisms.

Human Influence on Carrying Capacity

Actions such as adding/removing resources or altering species presence that affect the population size an ecosystem can support.

Limiting Factor

Any environmental factor that restricts the size of a population or where it can live.

Tolerance Range

The range of conditions within which a species can survive.

Stress

The condition experienced by individuals near the upper and lower limits of the tolerance range.

Optimal Range

The range of conditions within the tolerance range where a species is most likely to survive.