1. Biomagnification
Bioaccumulation

2. Content Bioaccumulation Biomagnification
Bioaccumulation vs Biomagnification
What types of substances bioaccumulate and which do not?
Concentration of DDT in tissue
Concentration of mercury in fish

3. Bioaccumulation
Definition: The accumulation (gradual gathering) of substances transferring from the environment into an organism.
Types of Substances that can accumulate: Nutrients, Toxins, Pesticides, Organic and Inorganic Compounds and Elements (such as mercury), and other pollutants.

4. Bioaccumulation
How substances can get from the environment into an organism:
Food intake (can eat something from environment that contains substance)
Respiration (breathing it in)
Skin Contact

5. Bioaccumulation Example of Pesticides: DDT (chemical)
Example of naturally occurring elements: MERCURY (low concentrations can cause

6. Link to Resource

7. ”Madd as a hatter”

8. Biomagnification Substances such as pollutants become
concentrated as you move up the food chain
Energy passes through the food chain
Energy is lost as you move up the Food Pyramid
Levels of toxins and harmful substances can increase as you move up the Food Pyramid

10. Bioaccumulation vs Biomagnification
Both describe the increase of the amount of a substance in an organism (1,3)
Bioaccumulation occur within a single organism (1)
Biomagnification occurs across trophic levels (3)

11. Concentration of DDT in tissue
How does it pass through a food chain
Used as a pesticide – from insects to fish, birds and then larger animals

12. Mercury in Fish Fish absorb mercury efficiently
Larger fish eat many small fish and build up higher levels of mercury
Some have been banned for consumption for they present a toxic risk

13. Works cited
"Bioaccumulation". Wikipedia <
"Bioaccumulation". Toxics US Gov <
"Biomagnification and Bioaccumulation". Tripod <
"Biomagnification" < >.
"Environmental Biology - Ecosystems " <
"Food Chain/Biomagnification" <