which level of consumer has access to the smallest supply of energy? a. primary b. secondary c. tertiary d. quaternary please select the best answer from the choices provided a b c d

The quaternary consumer has access to the least amount of energy. This is because only about 10% of energy is passed on to the next level. So the higher you go up the food chain, the less energy there is.

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StaceeLichtenstein StaceeLichtenstein · Answer 2 · 2019-01-14T09:12:27+01:00

Answer: The correct answer is- D) Quaternary.

Food chain represents the transfer of energy and matter among different organisms in an ecosystem. It starts from producers ( like green plants and algae) and it is followed by different levels of consumers ( such as primary consumer, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary consumers).

As per the law of 10% energy transfer, only 10 % of the energy is passed from one trophic level to the next whereas the rest 90% of the energy is utilized in various metabolic processes and released as heat in the atmosphere.

Among the different trophic levels ( position of organism in food chain), quternary level of consumers lie at the last position and thus they receive smallest supply of energy.