Biomagnification
- Pronunciation
- /BY-oh-mag-nih-fih-KAY-shun/
- Category
- Ecology
- Singular
- biomagnification
Definition
The progressive increase in concentration of a persistent substance—such as a heavy metal, organochlorine , or halogenated compound—in the tissues of organisms at successively higher of a . Unlike bioaccumulation, which describes concentration within an individual over time, biomagnification specifically denotes amplification across feeding levels, typically producing highest residues in apex .
Etymology
From Greek bios (life) + Latin magnus (great) + facere (to make), reflecting the amplifying effect through living systems.
Example
In aquatic , concentrations may biomagnify from 0.000003 ppm in water to 0.04 ppm in zooplankton, 0.5 ppm in small fish, 2.0 ppm in large fish, and 25 ppm in fish-eating birds such as ospreys; terrestrial analogs occur when predatory insects like concentrate neonicotinoid residues acquired through multiple prey .
Synonyms
- bioamplification
- biological magnification
Related Terms
Usage Notes
Distinguished from bioaccumulation: the latter occurs within an organism over its lifespan, whereas biomagnification occurs across . The term is typically reserved for lipophilic, poorly metabolized compounds with long environmental half-lives. Not all substances biomagnify—some dilute through (trophic dilution).