In an ecosystem, the concentration of a substance like an herbicide typically increases at higher trophic levels due to a process known as biomagnification. Biomagnification occurs when organisms at each trophic level accumulate substances in their bodies, leading to higher concentrations as you move up the food chain.
In this case, if the herbicide targets algae and does not break down in the environment, the initial accumulation of the herbicide would occur in the algae. Small organisms that consume the algae (such as minnows) would then accumulate the herbicide in their bodies. As larger predators (like bass, foxes, and cougars) consume these smaller organisms, they would accumulate even higher concentrations of the herbicide.
Among the options provided:
- Cougar (top predator)
- Fox (can be a secondary consumer)
- Bass (often a predator of smaller fish and prey)
- Minnow (a primary consumer that feeds on algae)
Since the cougar is the highest trophic level in this food chain and would consume multiple organisms (including bass that may have ingested minnows that consumed algae), it would likely have the highest concentration of the herbicide.
Therefore, the organism you would expect to find the highest amount of herbicide in is the cougar.
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