Question

1. diagram it! illustrate the organisms listed above the labels below. draw in arrows to show the direction of energy flow and fill in the consumer labels. you will use this diagram to answer several questions that follow.

5 insects (primary consumer) 2 lizards (________ consumer) 1 predatory bird (________ consumer)

1. consider a toxin (with the ability to bioaccumulate) used on the insects. if the insects are exposed to this toxin, explain how this toxin can also reach lizards and predatory birds based on the diagram you made from #1.

1. which consumer level from question #1 would you predict to have the highest concentration of toxin? why?

1. the video mentions that many toxins, such as many pesticides, do not necessarily stay isolated to the area where they are intended to be placed. explain.

1. mercury is a toxin that is of significant concern due to biomagnification. it can be found in varying concentrations in fish. many health organizations provide guidelines for fish consumption and list average mercury concentrations in different fish species. explain how mercury found in an aquatic environment can accumulate in biomagnification, and explain how limiting consumption of large predatory fish, such as swordfish, may be necessary for individuals trying to avoid high mercury concentrations.

1. based on your understanding of biomagnification, what are some questions that one may want to consider preparing to release a new pesticide?

Explanation:

1. Lizards eat insects, so they are secondary consumers. Predatory birds eat lizards, so they are tertiary consumers.
2. Insects are exposed to the toxin. Lizards eat the insects, ingesting the toxin. Predatory birds eat the lizards, getting the accumulated toxin from the lizards.
3. The predatory bird (tertiary - consumer) will have the highest concentration of toxin due to biomagnification. As the toxin accumulates in each trophic level, top - level predators have the most.
4. Toxins can spread through air, water, and soil. Wind can carry them, water runoff can transport them, and they can seep into the soil and be taken up by plants or move to other areas.
5. Mercury enters the aquatic environment. Small organisms like plankton absorb it. Larger fish eat the smaller ones, and the mercury accumulates. Large predatory fish at the top of the food chain have high mercury levels. Limiting their consumption reduces mercury intake for humans.
6. Questions could include: How does the pesticide bioaccumulate? What are the long - term effects on different trophic levels? How will it spread in the environment?

Answer:

1. Secondary, Tertiary
2. Insects are exposed to the toxin. Lizards eat the insects, ingesting the toxin. Predatory birds eat the lizards, getting the accumulated toxin from the lizards.
3. The predatory bird (tertiary - consumer) because of biomagnification, where toxins accumulate more in top - level predators.
4. Toxins can spread through air, water, and soil via wind, water runoff, and soil seepage.
5. Mercury enters the aquatic environment, is absorbed by small organisms, and accumulates as larger fish eat smaller ones. Limiting large predatory fish consumption reduces mercury intake for humans.
6. How does the pesticide bioaccumulate? What are the long - term effects on different trophic levels? How will it spread in the environment?