In open- water marine ecosystems, the occupy the same trophic level as the giant sequoias (redwoods) in the forests of California.

A) tiny, multicellular zooplankton ("animal drifters") that feed on phytoplankton
B) fast- swimming, fish- eating tuna
C) giant, squid- eating whales
D) microscopic, single- celled algae (protists) called phytoplankton ("plant- like drifters")
E) microscopic bacteria that decompose all the other organisms once they have died