JKSSB Written 2022
Answer & Explanation
Click "Check Answer" to reveal
Correct Answer:
Option A —
Increase in the concentration of non-degradable pollutant as they pass through food chain
Understanding BiomagnificationBiomagnification (also known as bioamplification) occurs when certain toxic substances—such as mercury, DDT, or microplastics—enter an ecosystem. Because these substances are "non-degradable" (the body cannot break them down or excrete them easily), they accumulate in the tissues of organisms.
Lower Trophic Levels: Small organisms (like plankton) absorb a tiny amount of the toxin.
Middle Trophic Levels: Small fish eat a large volume of plankton, collecting all the toxins from every plankton they consume.
Higher Trophic Levels: Top predators (like eagles, sharks, or humans) eat many fish. Consequently, the concentration of the toxin reaches its highest level at the top of the food chain.
Analysis of Other Options
B) Group of individuals of the same species: This is the definition of a Population.
C) Number of births during a given time period: This is the definition of Natality.
D) Interspecific interaction where one adversely affects the other: This describes interactions like Parasitism or Predation.
A Famous Example: DDT
In the mid-20th century, the pesticide DDT was widely used. While the concentration in water was very low, it magnified millions of times by the time it reached birds of prey. This caused their eggshells to become thin and break easily, leading to a massive decline in bald eagle populations.
Answer verified by Quintessence Classes faculty — Karan Nagar, Srinagar.