Reproductive failure, behavioral changes, nervous system damage, and death.

Thinning of eggshells, leading to population declines.

Nervous system damage and developmental issues.

Cascading effects on the entire ecosystem, leading to ecological imbalance.

Increased rate of mercury conversion and fish metabolism, leading to higher methylmercury levels.

Continued disruption of food chains and potential harm to wildlife.

Exposure to toxins like methylmercury, leading to health problems.

Accumulation of toxins in tissues, potentially leading to health problems over time.

Entry of pesticides into water systems, harming aquatic life and potentially biomagnifying up the food chain.

Increased mercury levels in the environment, leading to methylmercury formation and biomagnification.

Bioaccumulation occurs within one organism; biomagnification occurs across multiple organisms in a food chain.

They consume organisms from lower trophic levels, accumulating higher concentrations of toxins.

Consumption of contaminated fish or meat can lead to neurological damage, developmental issues, and other health problems.

It persists in the environment, biomagnifies in food chains, and causes reproductive problems in birds.

Warmer ocean temperatures increase mercury conversion to methylmercury and fish metabolism, increasing methylmercury levels.

Fat-soluble toxins are more likely to bioaccumulate because they are stored in fatty tissues and not easily excreted.

Bacteria convert inorganic mercury into organic methylmercury, a more toxic form.

Reduced fertility and increased mortality in top predators can lead to population declines and even extinctions.

The loss of keystone species can have cascading effects on the entire ecosystem, leading to significant ecological changes.

Pollutants easily enter water systems, and aquatic food chains tend to be longer, leading to greater biomagnification.

1. Toxins enter the ecosystem. 2. Small organisms absorb toxins. 3. Larger organisms consume smaller organisms, accumulating toxins. 4. Concentration increases at each trophic level. 5. Apex predators have the highest concentrations.

1. Inorganic mercury enters the environment. 2. Bacteria convert inorganic mercury into methylmercury. 3. Methylmercury is absorbed by small organisms. 4. Methylmercury biomagnifies up the food chain.

1. DDT was sprayed on water. 2. Algae absorbed DDT. 3. Small fish consumed algae. 4. Larger fish consumed small fish. 5. Birds of prey consumed larger fish. 6. DDT caused thinning of eggshells.

1. Pollutants enter the environment. 2. Producers (e.g., plants, algae) absorb the pollutants. 3. Primary consumers eat the producers. 4. Secondary consumers eat the primary consumers. 5. The pollutant concentration increases at each level.

1. Toxins dissolve in water. 2. Aquatic organisms absorb toxins through gills or skin. 3. Toxins accumulate in fatty tissues. 4. Organisms are consumed by predators, transferring the toxins.

1. Fish is exposed to toxins in water or food. 2. Toxins enter the fish's body. 3. Toxins are stored in the fish's tissues (especially fat). 4. Toxin levels increase over the fish's lifetime.

1. Warmer temperatures increase bacterial activity. 2. Increased bacterial activity accelerates the conversion of mercury to methylmercury. 3. Warmer waters increase fish metabolism. 4. Fish accumulate higher levels of methylmercury.

1. Pollutant enters the ecosystem. 2. Pollutant bioaccumulates in organisms. 3. Pollutant biomagnifies up the food chain. 4. Keystone species are affected. 5. Ecosystem structure and function are disrupted.

1. DDT interferes with calcium metabolism in birds. 2. Less calcium is available for eggshell production. 3. Eggshells become thinner and more fragile. 4. Eggs break easily, reducing hatching success.

1. Pollutants enter the soil. 2. Plants absorb pollutants. 3. Herbivores consume plants. 4. Carnivores consume herbivores. 5. Apex predators consume carnivores, accumulating high pollutant concentrations.