In a highly pesticide polluted pond, which of the following aquatic animal organisms will have the maximum amount of pesticide per gram of body mass?

In a highly pesticide polluted pond, which of the following aquatic animal organisms will have the maximum amount of pesticide per gram of body mass? Correct Answer Fishes

The correct answer is Fishes.

Concept:

• Biological magnification (biomagnification)  is defined as an increased intoxicant concentration at successive trophic levels.
• Toxic substances cannot be metabolized or excreted, therefore they get accumulated in an organism and passed on to higher trophic levels.
• Higher trophic level organisms will have a higher concentration of the compounds.
• Pesticides and mercury such as DDT are among the contaminants (toxic substances).

Explanation:

• The use of various pesticides and other chemicals to protect the crops from diseases and pests.
• These chemicals are either washed into the soil or into the water bodies.
• The water bodies are taken up by aquatic plants and organisms.
• This is one of the ways in which they enter the food chain.
• As these chemicals are not degradable, they accumulate at each trophic level.
• As fishes occupy the topmost level in the aquatic food chain, the maximum concentration of these chemicals (pesticides) get accumulated in their bodies.

Thus, in a highly pesticide-polluted pond, fishes are aquatic animal organisms that have the maximum amount of pesticide per gram of body mass.