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Bioaccumulation and biomagnification are two phenomena related to the transfer of hazardous chemicals up in the food chain. Toxins enter the food web through bioaccumulation, which occurs when toxins accumulate in individual species, whereas biomagnification occurs when toxins are transmitted from one trophic level to the next (and so rise in concentration) within a food web.
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Key Takeaways: Biomagnification, Bioaccumulation, Toxins, Metals, Pesticides
What is Biomagnification?
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Biomagnification is a process or a way through which certain chemical compounds or toxins accumulate at higher trophic levels in a food chain. This is also known as biological magnification. Toxins, heavy metals, mercury, and other hazardous products are present in larger concentrations in the chemical compounds. As the concentration of these compounds increases and accumulates, they travel up the food chain. When tainted substances are ingested by different levels of organisms in a food chain, severe health risks develop.
Biomagnification
What is Bioaccumulation?
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Bioaccumulation refers to the process of harmful compounds such as pollution, pesticides, and other toxins being absorbed directly into the human body through the air, water, food, or skin. As this toxin accumulates in the human body, it raises the risk of chronic poisoning and other serious health problems.
Bioaccumulation
Difference between Biomagnification and Bioaccumulation
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| Definitions | The accumulation of chemical compounds or toxins at higher trophic levels of a food chain. In other words, increase in concentration of chemical substances in the animals on a higher level. | Accumulation of toxic chemicals in the tissue of a specific organism. |
| Food Chain | Biomagnification occurs between two trophic levels given. | Like Biomagnification, Bioaccumulation also arises between trophic level |
| Causes | There will be an increase in the stages as one moves higher in the food chain. | Rise in the concentration of a substance within the organism |
| Level of concentration of pollutant | Causes a rise in the concentration of a pollutant in an organism. | Rise in the concentration of toxicants as they shift from one trophic level to other. |
| Example | Pollutants and other ingested toxins from tiny aquatic organisms are transferred to small fish, which are then consumed by larger fish and other aquatic species. | Accumulation of mercury in aquatic animals. |
So, although both bioconcentration and bioaccumulation arises within the organism, biomagnification occurs at multiple levels of the food chain. Phytoplankton and other microscopic species, for example, absorb methylmercury and store it in their tissues. Mercury bioaccumulation is the process where mercury concentrations in the organisms are higher than in the surrounding environment. When mammals consume these smaller species, they absorb their prey's mercury burden. As a result, animals higher up the food chain contain higher levels of mercury than they would have had from regular exposure. Mercury levels rise with growing trophic levels.
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Things to Remember
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- Bioaccumulation occurs over the course of a single organism's life, resulting in a larger concentration in older people.
- Within the food chain, biomagnification happens when chemicals move from lower levels to higher trophic levels, causing larger concentration in apex predators.
- Both bioaccumulation and biomagnification requires entry into living organisms. It's got to be a toxic substance. Fat dissolves toxic chemicals.
- Toxic chemicals and pollutants are released into the environment, resulting in an accumulation of toxins and dangerous substances in the oceans, air, and land.
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Sample Questions
Ques. Is biomagnification conceivable in the absence of bioaccumulation? (2 marks)
Ques. What is the issue with bioaccumulation? (3 marks)
Toxins enter the body at a faster rate than the body can eliminate them, putting the organism at risk of chronic poisoning. Even if the environment does not contain a large concentration of poison, accumulation through the food chain can be lethal to species.
Ques. What impact does bioaccumulation have on the environment? (2 marks)
Ques. Is bioaccumulation beneficial to trophic efficiency? (2 marks)
Ques. Why is biomagnification important in toxicology? (2 marks)
Ques. How is bioaccumulation measured? (2 marks)
Ques. What kind of animals are impacted by bioaccumulation? (2 marks)
Ans. Bioaccumulation and biomagnification have a harmful effect on marine biodiversity, particularly apex predators such as sharks, seals/sea lions, and killer whales. The animals at the very top of the food chain are the ones who suffer the most. Plants absorb little amounts of hazardous compounds, such as pesticides or pollutants from human activity.
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