What does biological magnification describe?

Biological magnification refers to the process where certain substances, particularly toxic chemicals like heavy metals and pesticides, accumulate in higher concentrations at each successive trophic level in a food chain. This occurs because these substances are often not easily metabolized or excreted by organisms, leading to their buildup within the tissues over time.

As small organisms, such as phytoplankton or small fish, absorb these toxins from their environment, they may contain higher concentrations of these substances compared to the surrounding water. When predators, like larger fish, birds, or mammals, consume these smaller organisms, they accumulate even more toxins in their bodies. This process results in top predators having significantly higher concentrations of these harmful substances, which can lead to severe health issues, reproductive problems, and even death.

Understanding this concept is crucial for recognizing the impacts of pollution on ecosystems and food chains, highlighting the importance of regulating harmful substances to protect both wildlife and human health. The other options either misrepresent the concept or describe unrelated ecological phenomena.