Bioaccumulation Through a Food Chain

Bioaccumulation

is when toxins build up in the tissues of organism at a faster rate then it is being excreted.

• how pollutants enter a food chain

Biomagnification

describes how the concentration of toxins increases as the trophic level increase in a food chain/web.

Where do the pollutants come from?

• coal burning plants

• factories

• farms, lawns, and gardens

pile of M&Ms represent

phytoplankton

Ms on the m%ms

the amount of DDT

Characteristics of pollutants

• long lived

• soluble in fat

• mobile

• biologically active

• like mercury and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Consequences of the use of DDT

Humans: birth defects, nerve damage, cancers, etc.

Ecosystem: interferes with calcium, results in thin shells of birds

How to calculate the av amount of DDT

total DDT/# of organisms