Aquatic & Terrestrial Pollution

Mercury

Sodium chloride

Glucose

Calcium carbonate

Biomagnification is the initial step that leads to bioaccumulation in organisms.

Bioaccumulation and biomagnification are two different terms for the same process.

Biomagnification occurs independently of bioaccumulation in food chains.

Bioaccumulation contributes to biomagnification by increasing pollutant concentrations in organisms.

Elevated metabolism rates could enhance bioaccumulation effects through increased consumption rates by organisms at higher trophic levels.

Warmer temperatures would increase decay rates of these substances, reducing their presence before reaching higher trophic levels.

Lower water solubility at higher temperatures would reduce concentrations of toxins available for uptake by primary producers.

Decreased temperature differences between poles and equator would lead to uniform toxin distribution across all trophic levels globally.

They consume a larger variety of prey, leading to exposure to more types of toxins.

They are at the end of long food chains where substances have biomagnified.

They metabolize toxins more slowly than organisms lower on the food chain.

They have more fat cells that store higher amounts of water-soluble toxins.

Transpiration

Predation

Industrial runoff

Photosynthesis

Food web dispersion

Ecological cycling accumulation

Energy pyramid spreading

Trophic level accumulation

The replacement of a coal-fired power plant with a wind farm reducing mercury emissions.

The expansion of urban areas increasing surface runoff contaminated with pollutants.

An increase in industrial activities that release heavy metals into waterways.

A rise in agricultural runoff leading to greater use of chemical fertilizers.

Consumption of contaminated food and water

Exposure through skin absorption

Inhalation of polluted air

Direct contact with contaminated soil

Persistence of the pollutant

Availability of sunlight

Temperature fluctuations in the environment

Size of the organisms in the food chain

Introducing new prey species into ecosystems to diversify diets for top predators.

Banning or restricting persistent organic pollutants (POPs) like DDT that accumulate through trophic levels.

Promoting ecotourism initiatives focused on top predator habitats for educational purposes.

Creating wildlife reserves where these predators can hunt without human interference.