Which of the following suffered most from DDT poisoning in the Great Lakes region?
Answer (3)
I don't know the options, but I think a likely answer is fish-eating birds: they usually suffer the most from DDT poisoning: their reproduction is reduced and in extreme cases it even leads to death.
The Bald Eagle suffered most from DDT poisoning in the Great Lakes region due to its position as an apex predator, which led to higher concentrations of DDT in its tissues, causing eggshell thinning and reproductive issues. The option (A) is correct.
DDT causes biomagnification, where it becomes more concentrated in organisms at the top of the food chain, like apex predators.
The Bald Eagle, being an apex predator and at the top of the food chain, was severely affected, as the pesticide caused their eggshells to become too fragile, resulting in nesting failures. Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring highlighted these issues with DDT in the 1960s.
This question is not complete, Here I am attaching the complete question:
Which of the following suffered most from DDT poisoning in the Great Lakes region?
A) Bald Eagle
B) Peregrine Falcon
C) Osprey
D) Common Loon
Fish-eating birds, such as ospreys and bald eagles, suffered the most from DDT poisoning in the Great Lakes region, primarily due to the thinning of their eggshells caused by the chemical. The use of DDT was banned in the U.S. in 1972, leading to some recovery in these bird populations. However, DDT continues to pose risks in areas where it is still used, highlighting the need for further conservation efforts.
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