The phenomenon where non-biodegradable pesticides accumulate in the food chain, increasing in concentration at each higher trophic level, is called biomagnification.
Explanation:
Biomagnification (c):
This refers to the increasing concentration of pollutants, like pesticides, as they move up the food chain. These substances are not easily broken down and accumulate in the tissues of organisms, so higher trophic levels (predators) contain a larger amount of the pollutant than their prey.
Eutrophication (a):
This is a form of water pollution where excessive nutrients lead to an overgrowth of algae and plants, ultimately depleting oxygen levels.
Pollution (b):
While pollution encompasses any contamination of the environment, it’s a broader term than biomagnification. Biomagnification is a specific type of pollution related to the accumulation of non-biodegradable substances in food chains.
Accumulation (d):
This is a general term for the buildup of a substance. While it’s relevant to biomagnification, it doesn’t specifically describe the increasing concentration at higher trophic levels.