Bio-magnification

Definition

Bio-magnification is the process by which the concentration of a substance, such as a toxic chemical or heavy metal, increases in organisms as it moves up the food chain. This occurs because each organism consumes many smaller organisms that contain the substance, resulting in its accumulation and higher concentrations at higher trophic levels.

Analogy

Imagine you have a bag of candy. Each time you eat a piece of candy, you also consume any wrappers or packaging that came with it. As you continue to eat more candy, the amount of wrappers you accumulate increases. Similarly, in bio-magnification, each organism consumes other organisms containing a substance, leading to its build-up and higher concentrations.

Related terms

Biomagnification Factor: The ratio between the concentration of a substance in an organism's tissues compared to its concentration in the environment.

Trophic Level: The position an organism occupies in a food chain or web.

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs): Chemical substances that resist degradation and can bioaccumulate in organisms.