In general, the biomass in an ecosystem will be greatest at the trophic level comprising __________.

• A. herbivores
• B. primary consumers
• C. carnivores
• D. secondary consumers
• E. producers

Answer: (E)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of trophic levels: Trophic levels are the hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, comprising different organisms that share the same function in the food chain and the same nutritional relationship to the primary sources of energy.
2. Identify the different trophic levels: The main trophic levels are producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers. Producers are typically plants and algae that convert solar energy into biomass through photosynthesis.
3. Recognize the role of producers: Producers form the base of the food chain and have the greatest biomass because they convert sunlight into energy-rich organic compounds, which are then used by other organisms in the ecosystem.
4. Consider energy transfer efficiency: As energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next, only about 10% of the energy is passed on, while the rest is lost as heat. This means that higher trophic levels, such as herbivores (primary consumers) and carnivores (secondary consumers), have less biomass compared to producers.
5. Conclude that producers have the greatest biomass: Since producers are the primary source of energy and have the most direct access to sunlight, they accumulate the most biomass in an ecosystem, supporting all other trophic levels above them.