Our Environment · Class 10 · CBSE Science
Why do top carnivores in a food chain generally show the highest concentration of harmful pesticides like DDT, even when the initial concentration in…
Practice question from Our Environment (Class 10 · CBSE Science), with the correct answer and a step-by-step solution.
medium · MCQ · Q-740191
Why do top carnivores in a food chain generally show the highest concentration of harmful pesticides like DDT, even when the initial concentration in water or soil is very low?
- A.Because they consume large amounts of water directly
- B.Due to biological magnification as non-biodegradable chemicals accumulate progressively along food chainsCorrect answer
- C.Because they synthesize these chemicals inside their bodies during respiration
- D.Because their metabolic rate destroys helpful nutrients instead of toxins
Solution
Non-biodegradable chemicals like pesticides get absorbed by organisms and cannot be metabolized or excreted. As they move up higher trophic levels, their concentration increases progressively, a phenomenon known as biological magnification.
More from Our Environment
- Which of the following constitutes a food chain?
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- Which of the following groups contains only biodegradable items?
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