Name: ____________________
Sustainability of Ecosystems
Biomagnification
Biomagnification Case Study: Arctic
1. From the link: “Biomagnfication: Arctic Case Study”, please read the section
“What is bioaccumulation?” and then
a) Contrast the terms “pollutant”, and explain why “POPs” are more dangerous than regular
pollutants.
b) In the space below, show a both a “food chain” and a representation of ‘bioaccumulation’ in
the 3 trophic levels from “Figure 1”.
food chain
2. Complete “Task 1” (2 complete sentences needed).
Sketch representation of
“Bioaccumulation”
1-4
3. Now, read the section “What about other species?”
a) How do scientists check the ‘health of polar bears’ when they are drugged? What lets
the people know if the bear has been eating well or not?
b) What is a man-made use of PBDEs? From Figure 3, what do you see has happened to the
PBDEs when they got into the ecosystem?
c) Using Figure 4,
 show a food chain for this ecosystem, and circle the ‘producer’
 from this figure, explain how it shows “biomagnification” and where it looks
like it doesn’t
 the concentration of PBDE within Polar Bear fat is lower than Seal blubber.
Suggest reasons why this may happen.
4. Now, read the section “So how did the POP’s get there?”
a) How were people affected by PBDEs?
b) How do you think it got there?
c) Examine Figure 5 as you explain where the PBDEs may originally have come from.
5. Final Thoughts (“big ideas”):
a) Using all the information and ideas from the case study, write a short paragraph (4
sentences at least) explaining the difference between bioaccumulation and
biomagnification.
b) Explain how humans were involved in the polluting of the ecosystem, and how it
eventually came back to affect people years later.
c) Generate 2 possible solutions to the problem of PBDE pollution that is safe for the
environment, but still ‘solves the problem’ you generated from part b).
#1:
#2:
Using Databases: Case Studies
Our school division has purchased online databases which provide you with more “real-life”
scenarios that show (among other things) bioaccumulation and biomagnification. Later in the
unit, you’ll be using these databases to do some research into “Global Sustainability Issues”.
For now, use the “Student Edition” of our School Library ‘Reference’ page to find an article
dealing with biomagnfication, and complete this:
FIRST: Scan the Article You’ve Chosen:
1. What is the article’s title? _____________________________________________
2. When was the article written? ____________________
3. What was the name of the journal/magazine it appeared in? ______________________
SECOND: After Reading the Article:
4. What was the pollutant mentioned? ______________________
5. Did it biomagnify in the ecosystem? ________
6. What was the organism that was most affected? _________________________
7. What were the effects on that organism?
_________________________________________________
8. Was there any solution offered to the problem? _______ Explain: _________________
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