Question

how does bioaccumulation occur? group of answer choices toxins do not break down and remain in the environment for long periods of time. toxins move up the food chain, so that predators ingest higher concentrations. organisms are exposed to low doses of toxins over several years. ingested toxins cannot be metabolized or excreted and are instead stored in the body.

Answer 1

Bioaccumulation is the process of increasing concentration of nonbiodegradable substances from lower to higher trophic levels. It occurs when organisms cannot metabolize or excrete toxins and instead store them in their bodies. Examples include the accumulation of mercury in larger animals like fish or birds.

Step-by-step explanation:

Bioaccumulation is the increasing concentration of a nonbiodegradable substance as it passes from lower to higher trophic levels in an ecosystem. It occurs when toxins cannot be metabolized or excreted by organisms and instead accumulate in their bodies.

Bioaccumulation can happen in a few different ways. One way is through the movement of toxins up the food chain, where predators ingest higher concentrations of toxins when they eat other organisms. Another way is when organisms are exposed to low doses of toxins over several years, causing the toxins to build up in their bodies.

A concrete example of bioaccumulation is the accumulation of mercury in larger animals like fish or birds. These animals consume many small organisms that contain mercury, leading to an increase in mercury concentration in their bodies over time.