The increase in the concentration of contaminants in the tissues of animals high on the food chain is termed which of the following?
(a) bioaccumulation
(b) hyperconcentration
(c) evolutionary containment
(d) functional high-level accumulation

(A) Bioaccumulation

Explanation:

When the concentration of certain substances in the bodies of the organisms of various trophic levels keeps on increasing as they pass through the food chain, the process is called bioaccumulation or biomagnification.

Most of the organic non-biodegradable pollutants/chemicals exhibit bioaccumulation. Being insoluble in water, these chemicals are accumulated in the fat tissues of the organisms.

As the predator feeds on the prey having a non-biodegradable chemical in its tissues, the chemical enters the body of the predator.

As these chemicals pass through the food chain, there is a gradual increase in their concentration stored in the living tissues of the organisms. Therefore, the top consumers exhibit maximum bioaccumulation of contaminants in a food chain.