Final answer:
Biomagnification leads to higher levels of mercury and other toxins in apex predators; therefore, the statement is true. Apex predators accumulate these substances from their prey, leading to higher concentrations at higher trophic levels in the food web.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, levels of mercury are likely to be highest in the apex predators of a system because of biomagnification in the food web. Biomagnification is the process where toxic substances such as mercury, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), and heavy metals like lead and cadmium, become more concentrated in living organisms as they move up the food chain. Predatory fish and wildlife, like swordfish and bald eagles, accumulate these toxins from consuming multiple organisms that may each contain lower levels of the toxins. Studies by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the consequences of Silent Spring have demonstrated how these substances increase significantly at higher trophic levels. Consequently, apex consumers may hold concentrations of toxins magnitudes higher than those found in their prey or the primary producers at the base of the food web.