Final answer:
The 'common salad bowl' example illustrates the extended risks pesticides like malathion pose through bioaccumulation and biomagnification, affecting mammals and higher trophic level organisms over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The significance of the author's "common salad bowl" example with regard to the effects of malathion on mammals emphasizes the importance of understanding the long-term and indirect impacts of pesticides like malathion within ecosystems. Even though malathion and other organophosphates may have little immediate effect on humans and other mammals in proper doses, there is significant concern regarding chronic exposure and the potential for acute toxicity at higher exposures. Moreover, the example addresses a broader issue in ecology known as biomagnification, where toxic substances accumulate in organisms at higher trophic levels leading to detrimental effects on wildlife and potentially humans.