Final answer:
Biomagnification refers to the process in which toxins increase in concentration as they move up a food web. It can have harmful effects on organisms, especially top-level predators. This process is occurring in animal populations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Biomagnification refers to the process in which toxins or pollutants increase in concentration as they move up a food web. This means that organisms higher up in the food chain tend to accumulate higher levels of toxins compared to those lower down.
For example, if a small fish at the bottom of the food chain ingests water contaminated with a toxin, it only accumulates a small amount. However, a predator higher up such as a bigger fish that eats multiple smaller fish will accumulate a higher level of the toxin. The process continues as the toxin concentration increases in higher trophic levels.
Biomagnification can have harmful effects on organisms, especially top-level predators, as they accumulate high concentrations of toxins in their bodies. This can lead to various health issues and ecological imbalances.
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