High pesticide residues are most likely to be found in which part of the food chain?

High pesticide residues are most likely to be found in plant eaters at the bottom of the food chain due to a phenomenon known as biomagnification. When pesticides are applied to crops, they can be absorbed by the plants and remain in their tissues. As herbivores consume these plants, they accumulate the pesticides within their bodies.

While higher trophic levels, such as top predators, may also have pesticide residues, they typically reflect the bioaccumulation effects from the lower levels rather than being the primary source. Soil can contain pesticide residues from applications, but it does not represent the concentrations found in living organisms. Likewise, primary producers, such as plants, may absorb pesticides but do not necessarily have higher residues than the herbivores that consume them.

Thus, the correct answer focuses on the accumulation in herbivores, illustrating how these organisms are directly impacted by pesticide application and serve as a critical point in understanding pesticide movement through the food web.