Question

The illustration shows an ocean food chain and the concentrations of the toxin DDT at each trophic level. What conclusions can be made as to how DDT impacts this food chain? Include where the concentration of DDT is likely to be lowest, and where it is likely to be highest.

Answer 1

Answer:

Lowest concentration: small fishes

highest concentration: Osprey

Process: Biomagnification

Explanation:

With respect to given food chain, DDT concentration will be lowest in the primary consumers, that is, in small fishes. The top consumers, that is, osprey would exhibit highest DDT concentration. The image shows biomaginification of slow metabolizing DDT and its accumulation in the tissues of the living beings. Since biomagnification leads to maximum accumulation of chemical in the tissues of top consumers, osprey bird would be most severely affected.