Which of the following is the primary consequence of biomagnification?

The primary consequence of biomagnification is higher concentrations of toxins in top predators. Biomagnification refers to the process by which certain substances, such as heavy metals or pesticides, increase in concentration as they move up the food chain. Organisms at lower trophic levels absorb these harmful substances from their environment or through their food. As predators consume prey, they accumulate the toxins at higher levels than those found in their food sources.

For instance, tiny fish may consume contaminated plankton, and when larger fish eat these smaller fish, the concentration of toxins builds up further. Ultimately, top predators, such as eagles or large fish, end up with significantly higher levels of these contaminants than the organisms lower down the food chain. This can lead to severe health issues in these predators, including reproductive problems and increased mortality, impacting their populations and the overall balance of the ecosystem.

The other options do not accurately describe the direct effects of biomagnification. Increased biodiversity typically reflects a healthy ecosystem with various species coexisting rather than the detrimental effects caused by increasing toxin levels. Lower populations of decomposers or a reduction in habitat availability may result from broader environmental changes, but they're not direct consequences of biomagnification itself.