Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 13: Problem 5

Define bioaccumulation and biomagnification.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Bioaccumulation is the process by which a substance accumulates in the tissues of an organism over time, often because it is absorbed faster than it is excreted. Biomagnification refers to the increasing concentration of a substance in the tissues of organisms at higher levels in a food chain, particularly substances that are long-lived, mobile, fat-soluble, and bioaccumulative.

Step by step solution

01

Defining Bioaccumulation

Bioaccumulation refers to the process by which a substance, typically a chemical pollutant, accumulates in the tissues of an organism over time. This typically happens when a substance is absorbed at a rate faster than it is excreted.
02

Defining Biomagnification

Biomagnification, also known as bioamplification or biological magnification, is the increasing concentration of a substance, such as a toxic chemical, in the tissues of organisms at successively higher levels in a food chain. This typically occurs with substances that are long-lived, mobile, soluble in fat rather than water, and bioaccumulative.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Discuss two basic philosophies of pest control. How effective are they?

What adverse environmental and human health effects can occur as a result of pesticide use?

Describe the four categories of natural, or biological, pest control. Cite examples of each and discuss their effectiveness.

Define pests. Why do we control them? Describe at least four types.

Define the term economic threshold as it relates to pest control. What are cosmetic spraying and insurance spraying?
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Environmental Science Textbooks

Ecology Research

Read Explanation

Pollution

Read Explanation

Environmental Policy

Read Explanation

Physical Environment

Read Explanation

Sustainability

Read Explanation

Environmental Research

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free