UPSC Prelims 1997·GS1·geography·ecology and environment

Which one of the following organisms is likely to show the highest- concentration of DDT once it has been introduced into the ecosystem?

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Last updated 23 May 2026, 3:31 pm IST
  1. AGrasshopper
  2. BToad
  3. CSnakeCorrect
  4. DCattle

Explanation

This is explained by the process of biomagnification. When a non-biodegradable pollutant like DDT enters a food chain, its concentration increases at each successive trophic level because the pollutant cannot be metabolized or excreted by organisms. In this specific food chain, the grasshopper is a primary consumer that eats plants. The toad is a secondary consumer that eats the grasshopper. The snake is a tertiary consumer that eats the toad. Since the snake occupies the highest trophic level among the options provided, it would naturally accumulate the highest concentration of DDT.
geography: Which one of the following organisms is likely to show the highest- concentration of DDT once it has been introduced int
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