PLEASE ANSWER ASAP - Why are many producers needed to support a smaller number of consumers in food pyramids?

A) Because a tremendous amount of energy is lost as one moves up trophic levels.

B) Because of the exponential increase in energy gained as one moves up the trophic.

C) Because even though there is a greater number of organisms at the uppermost trophic levels, their total energy needs are far greater than those of all species combined at the lower trophic levels.

D) Because the total mass of the consumer level is far greater than that of the producers.