A pyramid of biomass is a diagram that shows the population at each level of the food chain. Accordingly, ________ occupy the base with the highest biomass.

producers

The correct answer is Option (4) - producers

A pyramid of biomass represents the total mass of living organisms at each trophic level in an ecosystem. In this pyramid:

Producers:

• Producers, such as plants and algae, occupy the base of the pyramid. They have the highest biomass because they convert solar energy into organic matter through photosynthesis. As they form the foundation of the food chain, their total mass is the largest.

Primary consumers:

• Primary consumers, herbivores that feed on producers, occupy the next level. Their biomass is less than that of the producers since energy is transferred and some is lost as metabolic heat.

Secondary consumers:

• Secondary consumers, carnivores that feed on herbivores, occupy the level above. Their biomass is even lower than that of primary consumers due to energy loss in each trophic transfer.

Decomposers:

• Decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi, break down dead organic matter and occupy the lowest level. Their biomass is relatively small compared to the other trophic levels.

So, in a pyramid of biomass, producers have the highest biomass, making them the base of the pyramid.