Georgia’s Coastal Plains region includes about 60% of the state. Long ago this area was part of the Atlantic Ocean and completely covered by water. Today it is characterized by sandy soil and flat topography. One important region of the coastal plain is the Okefenokee Swamp. Much of the Okefenokee is a southern coastal plain non-riverine basin swamp, forested by bald cypress and swamp tupelo trees. Upland areas support southern coastal plain oak domes and hammocks. Drier and more frequently burned areas support Atlantic coastal plain upland longleaf pine. The Okefenokee has the distinction of not only being a part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, but also the National Wilderness Preservation System. Despite government protection, human activities are impacting Okefenokee. In addition to acid rain, precipitation deposits mercury, emitted by coal-burning power plants and waste incinerators, to the swamp. How might this effect animal life in the swamp?
A)Mercury levels cause death to all species in the swamp ecosystem.
B)Mercury in the swamp water is passed back to humans in their drinking water.
C)Biomagnification of mercury results in toxic levels of mercury high in the food chains.
D)Air pollution from local-burning plants results in an increase in acid rain which causes death to aquatic species.