Bioaccumulation in food webs

Steps:

• Identify the purpose of an insecticide: control pests without long-term environmental harm.
• Evaluate each feature against ecological principles like persistence and trophic transfer.
• Undesirable traits harm non-target organisms or ecosystems.
• Select the option causing magnification through food chains.

Why B is correct:

• Bioaccumulation leads to higher toxin levels in predators, violating the principle of minimizing ecological disruption and causing widespread harm like in DDT cases.

Why the others are wrong:

• A: Rapid breakdown prevents persistence, reducing environmental residue—desirable for safety.
• C: Specificity targets only pests, preserving beneficial insects—ideal for integrated pest management.
• D: Targeting immatures disrupts pest life cycles effectively without excess broad harm.

Final answer: B