What is biomagnification?

Biomagnification refers to the process in which the concentration of toxins increases in organisms at higher trophic levels within a food web. It occurs when animals at lower levels in the food chain accumulate pollutants from their environment, often through ingestion of contaminated food or water. As these contaminants move up the food chain, they become progressively more concentrated because predators consume multiple prey items, effectively amplifying the body burden of toxins.

For instance, if small fish ingest mercury from their environment and are then eaten by larger fish, the larger fish will accumulate more mercury than the small fish. This phenomenon can lead to significant health risks for top predators, including birds of prey and mammals, which often experience toxic effects due to these higher concentrations. Understanding biomagnification is crucial for assessing environmental health and the impacts of pollution on ecosystems.