Observe the given figure and answer the question.

Complete the statement "The organisms at each trophic level depend on those at .......".

Lower trophic level for their energy demands

The correct answer is Option (4) – Lower trophic level for their energy demands

Organisms at each trophic level depend on those at lower trophic levels for their energy demands. This is a fundamental principle of ecological systems and is often described as the flow of energy through food chains or webs.

At the base of the food chain are the primary producers, such as plants, algae, and some bacteria, which are capable of photosynthesis and convert sunlight into chemical energy. Herbivores (consumers that eat plants) occupy the next trophic level, and they obtain energy by consuming these primary producers. Carnivores (consumers that eat other animals) then consume the herbivores, and so on, forming a chain of energy transfer.

Each trophic level is dependent on the trophic level below it for energy because energy is transferred upwards through the consumption of organisms. This energy transfer is not 100% efficient, and as a result, each successive trophic level typically supports fewer organisms and has less available energy compared to the trophic level below it. This concept is central to understanding the dynamics of ecosystems and the relationships between organisms within them.