Which term describes the process by which chemicals accumulate in the tissues of organisms along the food chain?

Which term describes the process by which chemicals accumulate in the tissues of organisms along the food chain?

• A. Biofiltration
• B. Bioaccumulation
• C. Biomagnification
• D. Biodegradation

Answer: (B)

The key idea is accumulation of a chemical in the bodies of organisms over time. Bioaccumulation means a substance builds up in an individual organism because it is taken in faster than it is lost, through sources like water, air, or food. Over time, the chemical concentration in that organism’s tissues rises. When many organisms in a food chain have this buildup, predators that eat them can end up with even higher concentrations. That upward transfer of contaminants through trophic levels is biomagnification, a related concept. But the term that describes the buildup within organisms themselves is bioaccumulation, which is why it’s the best fit for this description. Biodegradation refers to breaking down pollutants, and biofiltration describes removal by microbial or filtration processes, so they don’t capture this idea.

The key idea is accumulation of a chemical in the bodies of organisms over time. Bioaccumulation means a substance builds up in an individual organism because it is taken in faster than it is lost, through sources like water, air, or food. Over time, the chemical concentration in that organism’s tissues rises. When many organisms in a food chain have this buildup, predators that eat them can end up with even higher concentrations. That upward transfer of contaminants through trophic levels is biomagnification, a related concept. But the term that describes the buildup within organisms themselves is bioaccumulation, which is why it’s the best fit for this description. Biodegradation refers to breaking down pollutants, and biofiltration describes removal by microbial or filtration processes, so they don’t capture this idea.