Arrange the following sequential events demonstrating the biomagnification of persistent synthetic pesticides in an aquatic food web, starting from initial environmental contamination to the final impact on apex predators.
- 1Agricultural runoff introduces low concentrations of non-biodegradable synthetic pesticide into a river system.
- 2Microscopic producers (phytoplankton) absorb the fat-soluble pesticide from water and store it in their lipid tissues.
- 3Zooplankton ingest large quantities of phytoplankton, leading to an increased concentration of the toxin per unit body mass.
- 4Small fish prey upon zooplankton, further magnifying the concentration of the pesticide in their fatty organs.
- 5Fish-eating birds consume contaminated small fish, accumulating lethal or sub-lethal toxic levels that cause eggshell thinning.
Cevap
The correct order of biomagnification stages is: Agricultural runoff introduces the pesticide into water Phytoplankton absorb the pesticide Zooplankton consume phytoplankton Small fish prey on zooplankton Fish-eating birds accumulate toxic concentrations.
Biomagnification occurs as non-biodegradable, lipophilic (fat-soluble) pollutants move up the trophic levels of a food chain. The sequence begins with the introduction of the chemical pollutant into water, followed by uptake by phytoplankton at the base of the food chain. As primary consumers (zooplankton), secondary consumers (small fish), and apex predators (fish-eating birds) feed on organisms below them, the concentration of the toxin increases exponentially at each step.
Adım Adım Çözüm
Anahtar Kavram
Biomagnification of Non-Biodegradable Pollutants
Tahmini Süre:1m 30s