Where would you expect to find the largest concentration of mercury within marine life?Question 9Answersea birdsbenthic organismssharksshrimp

To determine where the largest concentration of mercury within marine life is typically found, we need to consider the concept of biomagnification. Biomagnification refers to the process by which the concentration of toxic substances, like mercury, increases in organisms at each successive level of the food chain.

1. Sea Birds: Sea birds often consume fish and other smaller marine organisms, which may have already accumulated mercury.

2. Benthic Organisms: These are organisms that live on the ocean floor, often in sediment where mercury can accumulate. However, they are generally lower in the food chain.

3. Sharks: As apex predators, sharks consume a variety of prey that may contain mercury. Over time, they tend to accumulate higher concentrations of mercury compared to other marine species.

4. Shrimp: Shrimp are often lower in the food web and may have lower concentrations of mercury compared to larger predatory species.

Conclusion

In summary, while all these organisms can accumulate mercury, sharks, as apex predators, are likely to have the largest concentrations due to biomagnification. Therefore, the answer to the question is:

Sharks.