What trophic level do primary consumers occupy in a food chain?

 Second trophic level

The correct answer is Option (2) - Second trophic level

A food chain represents the flow of energy and nutrients from one organism to another in an ecosystem. Each step in this flow is referred to as a trophic level. The main trophic levels in a food chain are:

1. First Trophic Level: This is occupied by the producers or autotrophs, such as plants, algae, and some bacteria. These organisms produce their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis and form the base of the food chain.
2. Second Trophic Level: This level is occupied by the primary consumers or herbivores. These organisms eat the producers to obtain energy. Examples include deer, grasshoppers, and zooplankton.
3. Third Trophic Level: This level is occupied by the secondary consumers or carnivores that eat the primary consumers. Examples include frogs, small fish, and spiders.
4. Fourth Trophic Level: This level can be occupied by tertiary consumers, which are carnivores that eat secondary consumers. Examples include snakes, large fish, and birds of prey.

In summary, primary consumers feed directly on producers and therefore occupy the second trophic level in a food chain.