Final answer:
Bioaccumulation refers to the process where toxic substances, like mercury, increase their concentrations as they move up the food chain from lower to higher trophic levels. This phenomenon can eventually result in concentrations that are toxic to larger organisms, including humans. A related term, biomagnification, refers to the increasing concentration of these toxins at each successive trophic level.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that describes the process where chemicals like mercury accumulate in organisms as they move up the food chain is known as Bioaccumulation. This is a process that increases the concentration of nonbiodegradable substances as these substances pass from lower to higher trophic levels in an ecosystem. Smaller organisms ingest or absorb the chemicals, and then these organisms are consumed by larger ones, leading to the accumulation of toxic substances in the larger organism's body over time.
Mercury, for instance, is a heavy metal that can bioaccumulate and eventually reach levels that are toxic to human health if ingested. Biomagnification is a related term referring to the increasing concentration of toxic substances in organisms at each successive trophic level. For instance, predatory birds eating fish may accumulate sufficient amounts of toxins to cause fragility in their eggshells, affecting their populations.
Overall, bioaccumulation and biomagnification underscore the importance of monitoring the presence and effects of toxic substances in ecosystems.
Learn more about Bioaccumulation