If a harmful chemical enters a food chain comprising snakes, hawks, mice and plants, which of these organisms is likely to have maximum concentration of the harmful chemicals in its body?

Question

Philoid · Accepted Answer

The food chain will be Plants → Mice → Snakes → Hawks

Hawks will have maximum concentration of harmful chemicals in its body as the accumulation of harmful chemicals which are non-biodegradable increases at every trophic level. This phenomenon of increase in concentration of harmful chemicals at every trophic level is called biomagnification. Since hawks are placed at top of this food chain so it will likely to have maximum concentration of the harmful chemicals in its body.