In a food chain, the largest population is that of

Options

A. primary consumers
B. Tertiary consumers
C. producer
D. decomposers

Answer

To answer the question "In a food chain, the largest population is that of," we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Food Chain Structure**:
- A food chain illustrates the flow of energy and nutrients from one organism to another. It typically starts with producers and moves through various levels of consumers.

2. **Identify the Levels in a Food Chain**:
- **Producers**: These are usually plants that produce energy through photosynthesis.
- **Primary Consumers**: These are herbivores that feed on producers.
- **Secondary Consumers**: These are carnivores that feed on primary consumers.
- **Tertiary Consumers**: These are higher-level carnivores that feed on secondary consumers.
- **Decomposers**: These organisms break down dead matter and recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem.

3. **Determine Population Size at Each Level**:
- In a typical food chain, the number of organisms decreases as you move up the trophic levels. This is due to the energy loss at each level, which limits the number of organisms that can be supported.

4. **Identify Which Group Has the Largest Population**:
- Producers generally have the largest population because they are the foundation of the food chain, providing energy for all other levels.
- However, decomposers also play a crucial role in breaking down organic matter and are numerous in their own right.

5. **Conclusion**:
- The largest population in a food chain is typically that of the **producers**. However, if the question refers to the overall ecosystem, decomposers can also be considered as they are abundant in decomposing organic matter.

### Final Answer:
The largest population in a food chain is that of the **producers**.