Define biomagnification.

Outline a named example of biomagnification.

biomagnification is a process in which chemical substances become more concentrated at each trophic level

toxins/substances enter the body in water or food;

heavy metals are water soluble / synthetic organic compounds are fat soluble;

heavy metals bind to enzymes / synthetic organic compounds stored in fat;

no removal mechanism for heavy metals / synthetic organic compounds cannot be metabolized;

example of chemical/mercury (e.g. DDT/organophosphorus/ TBT/PCB);

example of affect on top carnivore in food chain (e.g. thin egg shells for birds of prey);

Award [1 max] if no named example given.

The definition of biomagnifications was mostly very well answered.

Named examples of biomagnifications were often successfully given e.g. DDT or mercury. However, other than suggesting that these toxins enter the body in water or food, the reasons for the biomagnifications were not seen. Only very vague answers were seen. No details of exactly why an accumulation in any one step of a food chain was seen, e.g. accumulation in fat stores.