STB-3.J—Describe the effects of bioaccumulation and biomagnification

Describe the effects of bioaccumulation and biomagnification.

• Some effects that can occur in an ecosystem when a persistent substance is biomagnified in a food chain include eggshell thinning and developmental deformities in top carnivores of the higher trophic levels.
• Humans also experience harmful effects from biomagnification, including issues with the reproductive, nervous, and circulatory systems.
• DDT, mercury, and PCBs are substances that bioaccumulate and have significant environmental impacts.
• Enduring understanding STB-3: Human activities, including the use of resources, have physical, chemical, and biological consequences for ecosystems.