Question

In a terrestrial food chain which of the following organisms comprise the greatest mass of living substance (biomass)?

• A. Decomposers (e.g., bacteria)
• B. Producers (e.g., grasses)
• C. Primary consumers (e.g., mice)
• D. Secondary consumers (e.g., snakes)
• E. Tertiary consumers (e.g., hawks)

Answer 1

The correct option is B Producers (e.g., grasses)

Primary producers are organisms that fix atmospheric carbon into organic matter and thereby incorporate it into living biomass. Moving from primary producers to top consumers in a terrestrial food chain, a part of energy is lost in respiration. Therefore, primary producers comprise the greatest biomass in these food chains. Correct answer is B.