All Flashcards
Why are apex predators most affected by biomagnification?
They consume organisms from lower trophic levels, accumulating higher toxin concentrations.
How does bioaccumulation differ from biomagnification?
Bioaccumulation is within one organism; biomagnification is across the food chain.
What role do small organisms play in biomagnification?
They absorb toxins and pass them up the food chain when consumed.
Why is DDT harmful to birds of prey?
It causes thinning of eggshells, leading to population declines.
How does climate change affect methylmercury levels?
Warmer ocean temperatures increase mercury conversion and fish metabolism, leading to higher levels.
What are the long-term effects of DDT in the environment?
DDT persists in the environment and can still affect ecosystems and disrupt food chains.
How can biomagnification lead to ecosystem imbalance?
Loss of keystone species due to biomagnification can have cascading effects.
What human health problems can result from biomagnification?
Nervous system damage, developmental issues, reproductive failure, and behavioral changes.
Why is biomagnification a global concern?
Pollutants can travel long distances and affect ecosystems far from the source.
How does biomagnification affect human food sources?
Contaminates seafood and other food sources, posing health risks.
What is Bioaccumulation?
Buildup of substances in an organism's tissues over its lifetime.
What is Biomagnification?
Increase in toxin concentration as you move up the food chain.
Define Apex Predator.
Top predator in a food chain, often with the highest toxin concentrations.
Define Keystone Species.
Species with a disproportionately large impact on their environment.
What is Methylmercury?
Organic form of mercury that bioaccumulates and biomagnifies.
What was DDT?
A widely used pesticide in the mid-20th century, now banned in the U.S.
Define Trophic Level.
Each step in a food chain or food web.
What is a Persistent Pollutant?
A pollutant that remains in the environment for a long time.
Define Food Chain.
A linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another.
What is a POP?
Persistent Organic Pollutant; toxic chemicals that adversely affect human health and the environment around the world.
What is the effect of DDT biomagnification on bird populations?
Thinning of eggshells, leading to population declines.
What are the effects of methylmercury exposure on humans?
Nervous system damage and developmental issues.
How does the loss of keystone species affect ecosystems?
Can have cascading effects on the entire ecosystem, leading to imbalance.
What is the effect of warmer ocean temperatures on methylmercury levels?
Increased rate of mercury conversion and fish metabolism, leading to higher levels.
What is the effect of biomagnification on human health?
Exposure to toxins through contaminated food sources, leading to various health problems.
What is the effect of DDT persistence in the environment?
Continued disruption of food chains and potential harm to wildlife.
What is the effect of mercury contamination in aquatic ecosystems?
Bioaccumulation in fish and biomagnification up the food chain, posing risks to wildlife and humans.
What are the effects of POPs on the environment?
Long-term contamination, bioaccumulation, biomagnification, and adverse effects on wildlife and human health.
What is the effect of biomagnification on top predators?
Accumulation of high concentrations of toxins, leading to health problems and population declines.
What is the effect of DDT on the reproductive success of birds?
Interference with calcium deposition, resulting in thin and fragile eggshells, and reduced reproductive success.