What is biological magnification?

Biological magnification refers to the process by which the concentration of toxins increases at each successive level of the food chain or food web. This phenomenon occurs because organisms at lower trophic levels absorb these harmful substances from their environment or food, and as they are consumed by predators, the toxins accumulate and become more concentrated in the bodies of the organisms higher up on the food chain.

For instance, if a small fish ingests pollutants from water, and then a larger fish eats that small fish, the larger fish will have a higher concentration of these toxins. As this process continues up the food chain, predators at the top can have significantly elevated levels of toxins, which can pose serious health risks to them and to the humans who consume them.

This process highlights the importance of managing pollutants in the environment, as it can lead to detrimental effects not only on wildlife but also on human health when fish and other animals are part of the human diet. The concept of biological magnification emphasizes the need for awareness and action regarding environmental contamination and its far-reaching impacts.

The other options do not accurately describe this process. For example, the idea of a decrease in pollutants as one moves up the food chain contradicts the fundamental nature of biological magnification. Similarly,