Biomagnification is a phenomenon that occurs in the environment where certain substances become more concentrated as they move up the food chain. This means that the higher up an animal is in the food chain, the more concentrated the substance becomes in its body. This can have negative effects on both the animals and humans who consume them.
Definitions
Biomagnification is defined as the process by which the concentration of a substance increases in organisms as it moves up the food chain. This occurs because the substance is not metabolized or excreted by the organisms consuming it, leading to its accumulation in the body.
Origin
The term biomagnification was first coined in the 1960s by scientists who were studying the effects of pesticides on the environment. They discovered that certain pesticides were becoming more concentrated in the bodies of animals as they moved up the food chain, leading to negative effects on the animals and humans who consumed them.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, biomagnification is defined as “the process by which the concentration of a substance (such as a pesticide) increases in the tissues of organisms as it moves up the food chain.”
The Oxford English Dictionary defines biomagnification as “the process by which the concentration of a substance increases in organisms as it moves up the food chain, owing to the fact that the substance is not metabolized or excreted.”
Associations
Biomagnification is often associated with the negative effects of pesticides and other harmful substances on the environment. It can also be associated with the negative effects of overfishing and pollution on marine life.
Synonyms
Some synonyms for biomagnification include bioaccumulation, concentration, and amplification.
Antonyms
There are no direct antonyms for biomagnification, as it is a specific process that occurs in the environment.
The same root words
The root words in biomagnification are bio, meaning life, and magnification, meaning the act of making something larger or more intense. Other words that share the root word “bio” include biology, biodegradable, and biosphere.
Example Sentences
- The biomagnification of pesticides in the food chain has led to negative effects on both wildlife and humans.
- The concentration of mercury in fish due to biomagnification can be harmful to those who consume them.
- Overfishing can lead to biomagnification of harmful substances in the remaining fish populations.
- The study found that biomagnification of pollutants was occurring in the river ecosystem.