Final answer:
The phenomenon where the concentration of DDT increases from a lake to the tissues of an osprey is known as biomagnification. It causes serious ecological issues including endocrine disruption and thinning of eggshells in birds. The banning of DDT led to the recovery of many affected bird species.answer is option B.
Step-by-step explanation:
The example you provided, where the concentration of DDT increases from 0.0000003 ppm in a lake to 25 ppm in the tissues of an osprey, illustrates the phenomenon of biomagnification. Biomagnification refers to the increasing concentration of a substance, such as a pesticide or heavy metal, in the tissues of organisms at successively higher levels in a food chain. It particularly affects apex predators and top-level consumers like ospreys, eagles, and pelicans, leading to serious health issues such as endocrine disruption, birth defects, and thinner eggshells, which can result in egg breakage and population declines.
DDT was widely used as a pesticide for its cost-effectiveness and because it breaks down slowly in the environment. However, its persistence led to biomagnification through food chains, ultimately harming bird populations. After the banning of DDT in the 1970s, notably in the United States, affected bird species exhibited recoveries, which underscores the profound impact of biomagnification on ecosystem health and biodiversity.