Bioaccumulation

Question 1

What is bioaccumulation?

Answer 1

Process in which a toxic, non-biodegradable substance accumulates in the tissues of an organism.

Question 2

What can high levels of toxic substances cause in certain consumers?

Answer 2

Mutations, sterility, death

Question 3

Draw a food chain and explain the transfer of toxins occurring if a pesticide is sprayed on the producers.

Answer 3

1) Pesticides being sprayed on producers (grass).
2)Primary consumers eat that grass(mouse)
3)secondary consumers eat that mouse(snake)
4)tertiary consumers eat the snake (eagle)
As the trophic levels increase, the amount of pesticides also increases

Question 4

What is DDT?

Answer 4

A strong and persistent pesticide which dwells in an environment for a long time.

Question 5

What is DDT?

Answer 5

A strong and persistent pesticide which dwells in an environment for a long time.

Question 6

What are some advantages of using DDT

Answer 6

Reduce insect population, which transmits deadly illnesses.
Increase the yield of crops (due to less pests)

Question 7

What are some disadvantages of using DDT

Answer 7

Loss of useful insects (bees)
Mutations and sterility
Large number of fish and frog death
Bugs become resistant
Lower bird populations (fragility of eggs)

Question 8

Name another example of a substance which bioaccumulates and explain its effects.

Answer 8

Mercury, Lead, Agent Orange, etc. (Refer to your Work Booklet correction for more details on these substances)