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

Toxins in the environment: 1. DDT. PCB) Toxins in the environment: 1. Pesticides (DDT. PCB); 2. Industrial chemicals (methyl mercury)… Bioaccumulation: A build up of fat soluble toxins in the tissues of organisms. The increase in concentration of toxins in in the food chain. Biomagnification: The increase in concentration of toxins in consumers at higher trophic levels in the food chain UoKLxlA (2min) 3 UoKLxlA

Biomagnification Through the Food Chain

Pyramid of biomass

Food Chain Example Plant  Insect  small fish  big fish  Human (3min) Pyramid of Numbers

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

Methyl Mercury Methyl mercury cause the neural disorder Minamata disease. Methyl mercury cause the neural disorder Minamata disease. Minamata disease 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. 1 st identified in Minamata, Japan in st identified in Minamata, Japan in 1959 Due to the dumping of methyl mercury into Minamata Bay by the Chisso Petrochemical Co. Due to the dumping of methyl mercury into Minamata Bay by the Chisso Petrochemical Co. Dumping stopped in 1968 after 2,955 people got the disease – over half died Dumping stopped in 1968 after 2,955 people got the disease – over half died

1970 Minamata disease occurred in Ontario Canada (Grassy Narrow) Minamata disease occurred in Ontario Canada (Grassy Narrow).Grassy NarrowGrassy Narrow Dryden Chemical/ Pulp & Paper Co dumped mercury in the local rivers from Dryden Chemical/ Pulp & Paper Co dumped mercury in the local rivers from Ordered to stop in 1970 by the Ontario Gov. when people in a number of people got sick from eating local fish. Ordered to stop in 1970 by the Ontario Gov. when people in a number of people got sick from eating local fish. Methyl mercury can enter the environment through: Methyl mercury can enter the environment through: industrial processes. industrial processes. conversion of mercury to methyl mercury through the action of anaerobic organisms conversion of mercury to methyl mercury through the action of anaerobic organismsanaerobic organismsanaerobic organisms burning of mercury containing wastes & fossil fuels, particularly coal. burning of mercury containing wastes & fossil fuels, particularly coal. natural sources such as volcanoes, forest fires & weathering of mercury-bearing rocks. natural sources such as volcanoes, forest fires & weathering of mercury-bearing rocks.

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

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

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

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

Food Chain Which organism will be most affected by the toxin methyl mercury? Which organism will be most affected by the toxin methyl mercury? Note: The more methyl mercury in the living organism, the more sick it would get. Note: The more methyl mercury in the living organism, the more sick it would get.

Organisms Affected by Biomagnification of DDT Silent In The Morning.mp3 Silent In The Morning.mp3 Silent In The Morning.mp3 Peregrine Falcon Peregrine Falcon Bald Eagle Bald Eagle Whooping Crane Whooping Crane

DDT interferes with calcium metabolism DDT interferes with calcium metabolism This causes the thinning eggshells & reduces the number of eggs that survived to hatching. This causes the thinning eggshells & reduces the number of eggs that survived to hatching. The Peregrine Falcon, Bald Eagle & Whooping Crane became an endangered species during the mid 20 th century due to habitat loss & overuse of pesticides such as DDT. The Peregrine Falcon, Bald Eagle & Whooping Crane became an endangered species during the mid 20 th century due to habitat loss & overuse of pesticides such as DDT. Song birds & small mammals were also killed off by DDT (Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (11 min) (10 min ) ). Song birds & small mammals were also killed off by DDT (Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (11 min) (10 min ) ). ( (11 DDT had no long-term affect on mosquito populations. DDT had no long-term affect on mosquito populations.

TED TALKocean ecosystem (16 min)

Horton, in Dr. Seuss’s Horton Hears a Who “We’ve GOT to make noise in greater amounts! So, open your mouth, lad! For every voice counts!” We're not gonna take it-Twisted sister.mp3 We're not gonna take it-Twisted sister.mp3

The end! The end!