What is biomagnification?

Biomagnification refers to the process where certain substances, like pesticides, accumulate in the tissues of living organisms at increasing levels as they move up the food chain. In this context, when a predator consumes prey that contains pesticides, the concentration of these harmful substances becomes higher in the predator than in its prey. This occurs because predators often consume many prey items, leading to an increased accumulation of these chemicals over time.

This phenomenon is significant because it illustrates how contaminants can become more concentrated and potentially harmful at higher trophic levels in ecosystems, posing risks not only to wildlife but also to human health through the consumption of contaminated animals. Understanding biomagnification is essential for environmental science and pest management, as it emphasizes the need for careful consideration of pesticide use and its broader ecological impacts.