biomagnification
[ bahy-oh-mag-nuh-fi-key-shuh n ]
/ ˌbaɪ oʊˌmæg nə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən /
noun
Origin of biomagnification
First recorded in 1970–75;
bio- +
magnification
Words nearby biomagnification
biology,
bioluminescence,
biolysis,
biolytic,
biomagnetism,
biomagnification,
biomagnify,
biomarker,
biomass,
biomaterial,
biomathematics
Scientific definitions for biomagnification
biomagnification
[ bī′ō-măg′nə-fĭ-kā′shən ]
The increasing concentration of a substance, such as a toxic chemical, in the tissues of organisms at successively higher levels in a food chain. As a result of biomagnification, organisms at the top of the food chain generally suffer greater harm from a persistent toxin or pollutant than those at lower levels. Compare bioaccumulation.