An industrial plant discharges small amounts of a persistent heavy metal (mercury) into a river. Over time, predatory fish at the top of the river's food chain accumulate lethal levels of mercury in their tissues. What are the dual processes driving this phenomenon?

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A Eutrophication and subsequent deoxygenation.
B Leaching and surface runoff.
C Bioaccumulation within individuals and biomagnification up the food chain.
D Nitrification and nitrogen fixation.

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Answer: C. Bioaccumulation within individuals and biomagnification up the food chain.

Answer Explanation: C. Bioaccumulation occurs when an organism absorbs a toxin faster than it can eliminate it. Biomagnification happens as that toxin increases in concentration at each successive trophic level of the food chain, hitting top predators the hardest.

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An industrial plant discharges small amounts of a persistent heavy metal (mercury) into a river. Over time, predatory fish at the top of the river's food chain accumulate lethal levels of mercury in their tissues. What are the dual processes driving this phenomenon?

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