ANSWERS: 1
  • Compounds that are fat/oil soluable (mix in oils rather than water) tend to end up in the fat tissues, whereas water soluable compounds are excreted in urine. Over time, fat soluable compounds build up in the fat tissues of consumers. Therefore, at each consumer level the toxins are becoming increasingly concentrated. For example, if a plant has a toxin at 1 part per million (ppm) then the herbivores may have 10 ppm in their tissues. Predators feeding on herbivores will further concentrate the toxins because their food (the herbivores at 10 ppm) is higher than the food of the herbivores (the plants at 1 ppm), so their concentrations may be more like 100 ppm. Probably too late for an exam, but I hope this helps.

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