Final answer:
Certain toxicants can absorb into suspended matter in the water and subsequently be consumed by aquatic life, leading to a process called biomagnification. This process, illustrated in a study by NOAA, involves the accumulation and concentration of toxins as they move up the food chain. The implications of this process are grave for ecosystems and human health, underscored by the elevated levels of PCBs found in apex consumers and birds.
Step-by-step explanation:
Some toxicants like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and heavy metals such as mercury, lead, and cadmium, can become absorbed into suspended matter in water. These substances are then consumed by aquatic organisms, leading to a process known as biomagnification.
An example of this process is illustrated in a study performed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron. It was observed that PCBs were accumulated from the ecosystem's primary producers (phytoplankton) and moved up the different trophic levels of marine life. The apex consumer (walleye) contained over four times the PCBs compared to phytoplankton. Furthermore, birds feeding on these fish had PCB levels markedly higher than the fish.
Biomagnification can have serious implications for ecosystems and human health due to the consumption of toxic-containing seafood.
Learn more about Biomagnification