Biomagnification

BiomagnificationBiomagnificationWhen we try to pick out anything When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe. everything else in the universe. John Muir John Muir

Toxins in the environment:Toxins in the environment: 1. 1. Pesticides (DDT. PCB)DDT. PCB); 2. Industrial chemicals (methyl mercury)…

Bioaccumulation: A build up of fat soluble toxins in the tissues of organisms.

Biomagnification: The increase in The increase in concentration of toxins in concentration of toxins in consumers at higher trophic levels in the food chain.in the food chain.

3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5P-UoKLxlAhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5P-UoKLxlA (2min)

Biomagnification Through the Biomagnification Through the Food ChainFood Chain

Pyramid of biomassPyramid of biomass

Food Chain ExampleFood Chain Example

Plant Plant Insect Insect small fish small fish big fish big fish Human Humanhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9vM7y8uENo&feature=player_detailpage (3min) (3min)

Pyramid of NumbersPyramid of Numbers

Food ChainFood Chain

What would happen if each piece of plant What would happen if each piece of plant material has one microscopic drop of the material has one microscopic drop of the neurotoxin methyl mercury. neurotoxin methyl mercury.

Methyl Mercury Methyl Mercury Methyl mercury cause the neural disorder Methyl mercury cause the neural disorder

Minamata disease.. Symptoms Symptoms

numbness in limbs & lips, numbness in limbs & lips, difficulty hearing & seeing, difficulty hearing & seeing, shaking (tremors) in arms & legs, difficulty walking, shaking (tremors) in arms & legs, difficulty walking, brain damage & severe birth defects. brain damage & severe birth defects.

11stst identified in Minamata, Japan in identified in Minamata, Japan in 1959 1959 Due to the dumping of methyl mercury into Due to the dumping of methyl mercury into

Minamata Bay by the Chisso Petrochemical Co. Minamata Bay by the Chisso Petrochemical Co. Dumping stopped in Dumping stopped in 19681968 after 2,955 people after 2,955 people

got the disease – over half diedgot the disease – over half died

1970 Minamata disease occurred in Ontario 1970 Minamata disease occurred in Ontario Canada Canada ((Grassy Narrow). ). Dryden Chemical/ Pulp & Paper Co dumped mercury Dryden Chemical/ Pulp & Paper Co dumped mercury

in the local rivers from 1962- 1970. in the local rivers from 1962- 1970. Ordered to stop in 1970 by the Ontario Gov. when Ordered to stop in 1970 by the Ontario Gov. when

people in a number of people got sick from eating people in a number of people got sick from eating local fish. local fish.

Methyl mercury can enter the environment Methyl mercury can enter the environment through: through: industrial processes. industrial processes. conversion of mercury to methyl mercury through conversion of mercury to methyl mercury through

the action of the action of anaerobic organisms burning of mercury containing wastes & fossil fuels, burning of mercury containing wastes & fossil fuels,

particularly coal. particularly coal. natural sources such as volcanoes, forest fires & natural sources such as volcanoes, forest fires &

weathering of mercury-bearing rocks.weathering of mercury-bearing rocks.

Back to the Food ChainBack to the Food Chain

One insect eats 25 pieces of plant One insect eats 25 pieces of plant material, that would mean that each insect material, that would mean that each insect would have _______ microscopic drops of would have _______ microscopic drops of methyl mercury in its body. methyl mercury in its body.


If one small fish needs 10 insects to If one small fish needs 10 insects to live, then one fish would have _____ live, then one fish would have _____ microscopic drops of methyl microscopic drops of methyl mercury. mercury.


One big fish eats 5 small fish to live. So, One big fish eats 5 small fish to live. So, one big fish would collect a total of _____ one big fish would collect a total of _____ microscopic drops of methyl mercury in its microscopic drops of methyl mercury in its body. body.


What about you and me? Lets say we eat What about you and me? Lets say we eat 1 big fish a day for 3 days. We would 1 big fish a day for 3 days. We would collect total of ______ drops of methyl collect total of ______ drops of methyl mercury in our body over the 3 days. This mercury in our body over the 3 days. This is how biomagnification works!is how biomagnification works!


Which organism will be most affected by Which organism will be most affected by the toxin methyl mercury? the toxin methyl mercury? Note: The more methyl mercury in the living Note: The more methyl mercury in the living

organism, the more sick it would get. organism, the more sick it would get.

Organisms Affected by Organisms Affected by Biomagnification of DDTBiomagnification of DDT

Silent In The Morning.mp3Silent In The Morning.mp3

Peregrine FalconPeregrine Falcon Bald EagleBald Eagle Whooping CraneWhooping Crane

DDT interferes with calcium metabolismDDT interferes with calcium metabolism This causes the thinning eggshells & reduces This causes the thinning eggshells & reduces

the number of eggs that survived to hatching. the number of eggs that survived to hatching. The Peregrine Falcon, Bald Eagle & Whooping The Peregrine Falcon, Bald Eagle & Whooping

Crane became an endangered species during Crane became an endangered species during the mid 20the mid 20thth century due to habitat loss & century due to habitat loss & overuse of pesticides such as DDT. overuse of pesticides such as DDT.

Song birds & small mammals were also killed Song birds & small mammals were also killed off by DDT (Silent Spring by Rachel Carson off by DDT (Silent Spring by Rachel Carson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ipbc-6IvMQI&list=TL2MjhE_kB8w3ChnO4JZJJY_-ehvU0JT-v (11 min) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbtp2B-IFmw (10 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ipbc-6IvMQI&list=TL2MjhE_kB8w3ChnO4JZJJY_-ehvU0JT-v (11 min) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbtp2B-IFmw (10

minmin))).). DDT had no long-term affect on mosquito DDT had no long-term affect on mosquito

populations.populations.

TED TALK ocean ecosystem (16 min)

http://i-biology.net/tag/biomagnification/

Horton, in Dr. Seuss’sHorton, in Dr. Seuss’s Horton Horton Hears a WhoHears a Who

““We’ve GOT to We’ve GOT to make noise in make noise in greater greater amounts! So, amounts! So, open your open your mouth, lad! For mouth, lad! For every voice every voice counts!”counts!”

We're not gonna take it-Twisted sister.mp3We're not gonna take it-Twisted sister.mp3

The end!The end!

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Biomagnification