What term describes the increase in chemical concentration in animal tissues as it moves up the food chain?

The correct term for the increase in chemical concentration in animal tissues as it moves up the food chain is biomagnification. This process occurs when organisms at lower trophic levels in an ecosystem absorb and accumulate toxins, often from their environment or through their food sources. As predators consume these lower-level organisms, the concentration of these harmful substances increases progressively at each trophic level.

For example, small fish may ingest toxins from contaminated water or smaller prey, and when larger fish eat these small fish, they accumulate a higher level of toxins in their own bodies. This results in top predators, such as birds of prey or humans, having significantly higher concentrations of toxic substances than the organisms lower in the food chain. Understanding biomagnification is crucial for assessing the ecological impacts of pollutants and for developing effective pest control strategies that consider the health of the entire food web.