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Biological Magnification

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Title: Biological Magnification


1
Biological Magnification
  • Bill Addo, Haram Chang, Jay Chen, and Nabila
    Akthar
  •  
  • Biology SB1

2
What is Biological Magnification?
  • Biological Magnification, also known as
    Biomagnification, is the increase of substances
    that occurs in food chains. 
  •  
  • These substances are usually found in
    contaminated environments. Substances, such as
    pesticides and mercury, are absorbed by organisms
    due to their environment or the food they
    consume. The substance then accumulates inside
    the cells. 
  •  When an organism higher in the food chain eats
    multiple organisms below, each of them containing
    some of the toxins, the toxins becomes more
    concentrated in the higher food chain. Since this
    continues throughout the food chain, organisms
    higher in the food chain are the ones who will
    obtain the most toxins.
  •  

3
Bioaccumulation
  • Biological Magnification is often related with
    Bioaccumulation, which is the increase of the
    toxic substance in an organisms body. 
  •  
  • These two terms are different 
  • Accumulation pertains to harmful substances in a
    living organism's body and its effects. 
  • Magnification deals with the substance being
    passed along the food chain.
  • Bioaccumulation will cause a number of problems
    within the body that contains it. 

4
How Biomagnification affects animals
  • A common example of Biomagnification and
    Bioaccumulation is the use of DDT in the 1960's
    and 1970s. DDT, or dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethan
    e, was overly used by humans as a pesticide. It
    soon found its way into the environment. 
  •  
  • DDT and other toxins eventually climbed up the
    food chain, and affected the bald eagles, nearly
    driving them to extinction. The DDT was absorbed
    by organisms which the bald eagles hunted, such
    as fish and carrion. Each bald eagle would eat
    multiple numbers of these fish and carrion.
  •  
  • The DDT would accumulate inside each of the
    eagles' bodies. The DDT would sterelize the birds
    or cause them to make fragile eggs that would
    break easily. This caused the birds population to
    dwindle rapidly.

5
Bald Eagle Population
Figure 1
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  • http//www.fws.gov/midwest/eagle/population/chtofp
    rs.html

6
How DDT rises in a food chain
7
Mercury
  • Mercury is a natural substance, that is found in
    very small quantities in the ocean. Human
    interference with the environment, causes higher
    levels of mercury in the ocean. 
  •  
  • Algae, a producer, consistently absorbs the
    mercury which is found in its environment.
    However, it excretes it slowly. Often, zoo
    plankton will consume the algae and the mercury
    along with it. 
  •  
  • The plankton is then consumed by small fish,
    which is in turn consumed by larger fishes.
    Eventually, the fishes end up on human dinner
    tables. Humans, who consume fishes high in
    mercury, will easily become ill from mercury
    poisoning.

8
Biological Magnification of Mercury
9
The Biological Magnification of DDT in a marine
ecosystem.
10
Toxins that Biomagnify
  • DDT and Mercury are not the only toxin that
    biomagnifies. Other examples include, but are not
    limited to 
  •  
  • PCB'S (polychlorinated biphenyls) used in
    insulators, as a plasticizer, and fire retardant.
    It biomagnifies, impairs reproduction and is
    widespread in aquatic systems.
  •  
  • Cyanide is used in leaching gold and in fishing.
    It is a dangerous toxin and is known to have
    effects on coral reefs. 
  •  
  • Selenium is concentrated by farming desert soils.
    It is toxic and causes reproductive failures in
    organisms. 
  •  
  • Heavy metals such as mercury, copper, nickel,
    zinc, and lead affect the nervous system and they
    may affect reproduction. 

11
Toxins in Bodies of Water
Figure 2
http//www.epa.gov/med/grosseile_site/indicators/i
mages/ddtwalleye-fig7.gif
12
Toxins in Bodies of Water
Figure 3
http//www.epa.gov/med/grosseile_site/indicators/e
rie_fish.html
13
Toxins in Bodies of Water
Figure 4
http//www.epa.gov/med/grosseile_site/indicators/e
rie_fish.html
14
More Biological Magnification
Figure 5
http//jan.ucc.nau.edu/doetqp-p/courses/env470/Le
ctures/lec39/Lec39.htm
15
Why We Should Care
  • Ironically, biomagnification and bioaccumulation
    are caused by humans but also have a profound
    impact on us. 
  •  
  • It can lead to neurological effects such as
    mental retardation in infants who contract it
    through their mothers.
  •  
  • A weakened immune system is also the result of
    biomagnification.
  •  
  • Some cancers are also linked through ingesting
    these toxins.
  • It can also lead to organ failure in both animals
    and humans.
  • Since some animals have weaker immune systems
    then humans, they will die faster which can lead
    to extinction if it continues.

16
Prevention of Biomagnification
  • In an attempt to eradicate biomagnification, the
    U.S. and several countries worldwide have placed
    a ban on the use of DDT.
  •  
  • People are trying to prevent harmful substances
    such as oil and human waste from being dumped in
    water.
  •  
  • Landfills are also trying to get rid of these
    substances because they can seep into ground
    water.
  •  

17
Special Thanks / Citations
  • Information
  •  
  • http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomagnification
  •  
  •  http//toxics.usgs.gov/definitions/biomagnificati
    on.html
  •  
  • http//www.marietta.edu/biol/102/2bioma95.html 
  •  
  • http//www.epa.gov/med/grosseile_site/indicators/e
    rie_fish.html
  •  
  • http//jan.ucc.nau.edu/doetqp-p/courses/env470/Le
    ctures/lec39/Lec39.htm

18
Special Thanks / Citations Continued
  • Pictures
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  • http//www.calgoldrush.com/graphics/images/contami
    nation.gif
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  • http//image.wistatutor.com/content/ecosystem/biol
    ogical-magnification.jpeg 
  • http//www.corg/html/stitch.php?s98965698293378i
    d34347859802049fkeep.
  •  
  • http//www.fws.gov/midwest/eagle/population/chtofp
    rs.html
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