Bioaccumulation refers to the process by which substances, such as toxins or heavy metals, accumulate in an organism over time, often through the food chain. In assessing which member of the food chain would be affected the most by bioaccumulation, we can consider their position in the food chain and how they acquire nutrients and toxins.
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Corn (C): As a primary producer, corn is at the base of the food chain and does not typically bioaccumulate substances to a significant extent since it primarily absorbs nutrients from the soil and sunlight.
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Worm (D): Worms (particularly soil worms) play a role in nutrient cycling and can accumulate substances from the soil, but they are still relatively low on the food chain.
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Grasshopper (B): Grasshoppers are primary consumers and can accumulate toxins from the plants they eat, but they are also lower in the food chain compared to higher-order consumers.
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Fox (A): As a tertiary consumer, the fox is higher in the food chain and would be exposed to higher concentrations of toxins through the animals it preys upon (e.g., grasshoppers, and potentially worms). Toxins become more concentrated at each step up the food chain through the process called biomagnification.
Given this understanding, the member of the food chain that would be most affected by bioaccumulation is:
A fox
Toxins accumulate as they move up the food chain, meaning the fox, being higher up, is likely to experience the greatest effects.