Ecology, Biomag and Bioacc Flashcards
Herbivore, Omnivore, Carnivore
What is bioaccumulation?
The increase of toxins due to animals accumulating large amounts of toxin by continually eating a contaminated organism.
What is biomagnification?
The increase of toxin concentrations in animals through the food chain. The opposite of energy levels. The consumption of toxins is passed through animals.
Whats an example of bioaccumilation?
Mercury poisoning in fish.
Whats an example of biomagnification?
DDT effecting the eagles through consumption.
How are they similar?
They both require a living organism to be a process.
How are they different?
Biomagnification is how low the concentrations turn to higher concentrations in larger predetors.
Bioaccumliation is how one single organism has a substance that accumulates in the organisms cells, to a harmful level.
Why is it important to know if a toxin is water soluble or fat soluble?
Some toxins are not soluble in water but are in fat. Ex. heavy metals (mercury) or pesticides (DDT).
What is DDT? What did it do to bald eagles?
DDT is a toxic pesticide that kills off insects.
It effected the eagles because it infected the primary consumers through biomagnification, which cause the eagles reproductive processes to slow. Causing egg shells to be thin and babies to be malformed.
What does soluble mean?
Susceptible to being dissolved.
What are toxins stored in and why is it important.
Toxins are stored in fat. Bioaccumliation happens when the toxin is stored and accumulates in the fatty tissue.
