Bio-accumulation is, like the tragedy of the commons, a major theme that keeps re-occurring within sustainability. Most of us whether or not we are sustainability minded have heard that eating fish can cause higher mercury levels in humans and possibly lead to health problems. Though many do not realize that higher mercury levels in fish this is mainly a product of bio-accumulation. The video below was made by researchers at the University of Miami who are studying bio-accumulation in sharks, who are apex predators in the food chain. Possibly the biggest lesson we can learn from bio-accumulation is that in nature everything is connected and even the smallest action can have a ripple effect throughout an ecosystem and a food chain. It is important to remember that even with all of our advances in the past few centuries we are still part of nature and the food chain. When watching this video think about how bio-accumulation may impact humans.
http://vimeo.com/45969895