Biomagnification example – UGC NET Question

Biomagnification occurs when persistent, fat-soluble pollutants accumulate at higher levels in a food chain. Small organisms like plankton take up low concentrations from water, but predators eat many contaminated prey. At each trophic level, the pollutant becomes more concentrated in body tissues, so top predators show the highest levels. The classic example is DDT accumulation from plankton to fish to fish-eating birds.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because water generally has lower concentration than organisms; pollutants move into and concentrate within living tissues.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect; biomagnification means increasing, not decreasing, concentrations at higher trophic levels.

Option C:
Option C is correct as it describes rising concentration from lower to higher levels, matching observed patterns for DDT and similar pesticides.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because DDT is persistent and not completely degraded before entering food chains, which is why biomagnification occurs.