Bioaccumulation & Biomagnification (College Board AP® Environmental Science): Flashcards
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Define bioaccumulation.
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Cards in this collection (18)
Define bioaccumulation.
Bioaccumulation is the build-up of persistent or non-biodegradable pollutants within an organism, because the toxins cannot be easily broken down.
Name two heavy metals that bioaccumulate.
Heavy metals that bioaccumulate include mercury, lead, and cadmium.
Define biomagnification.
Biomagnification is the increase in the concentration of persistent or non-biodegradable pollutants along a food chain.
True or False?
Pollutants become more concentrated at higher trophic levels because those levels have more total biomass.
False.
Pollutants become more concentrated because the total biomass decreases at higher trophic levels.
Why does biomagnification disrupt an ecosystem's equilibrium?
Biomagnification disproportionately affects top predators, causing population declines, reproductive issues, developmental problems, and health issues.
DDT from crop spraying entered the food chain via and accumulated in the fish that fed on them.
DDT from crop spraying entered the food chain via plankton and accumulated in the fish that fed on them.
What effect did biomagnified DDT have on bald eagles?
DDT caused eggshell thinning and reproductive failure, which led to a severe decline in bald eagle populations.
Which 1962 book helped lead to the US and Canadian ban on DDT?
Silent Spring by Rachel Carson helped lead to the ban on DDT and related pesticides.
Name two measures in the bald eagle conservation program.
The program included captive breeding, reintroduction into the wild, law enforcement, and nest site protection during the breeding season.
Name two serious health problems biomagnification can cause in humans.
Biomagnification can cause certain cancers, liver and kidney failure, birth abnormalities, brain damage, and an increased risk of heart disease.
True or False?
Species with faster metabolisms and shorter lifespans are the most vulnerable to bioaccumulation.
False.
Species with slower metabolisms or longer lifespans store more poisons, so they are more vulnerable to bioaccumulation.
How could losing sea otters to toxins cause a trophic cascade in a kelp forest?
Without the keystone sea otters, sea urchins overpopulate and eat all the kelp, which harms the other species that depend on the kelp forest.
How do microplastics accumulate in animals?
Microplastics are absorbed through the intestinal wall and become lodged in the body, where they leach chemicals and accumulate over time.
In sediment and water, bacteria convert elemental mercury into , a highly toxic form readily absorbed by living tissue.
In sediment and water, bacteria convert elemental mercury into methylmercury, a highly toxic form readily absorbed by living tissue.
Which organisms accumulate the highest concentrations of methylmercury?
Top predators such as tuna and swordfish accumulate the highest concentrations, putting people who regularly eat them at the greatest risk.
What happened at Minamata Bay, Japan, in 1956?
A chemical factory released methylmercury into wastewater, and mercury in local fish and shellfish caused mercury poisoning in the people who ate them.
How can exposure to bioaccumulated mercury affect people?
Mercury can cause neurological damage, harming cognitive processes, memory, and motor skills.
In which human organs do microplastics selectively accumulate?
Microplastics selectively accumulate in the brain, liver, and kidneys.
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