What process concentrates contaminants like mercury in Grouper tissues?

Biomagnification

The primary mechanism responsible for the increased concentration of environmental contaminants, such as mercury, within Grouper is biomagnification. Grouper occupies a higher trophic level in the marine food web, functioning as a predatory fish. As these predators consume smaller forage fish over their extended lifespan, any contaminants present in the smaller organisms become progressively concentrated and accumulate within the tissues of the Grouper itself. This process is exacerbated by the long lifespan of the fish, giving it ample time to accumulate these xenobiotic compounds from its accumulated diet.