Final answer:
The intermediate stages of succession support the greatest number and diversity of organisms compared to the pioneer community.
Step-by-step explanation:
The intermediate stages of succession would support the greatest number and diversity of organisms compared to the pioneer community. In the process of ecological succession, the pioneer community consists of hardy organisms like lichens and some plants that appear first on bare rock. These pioneer species help break down the rock into soil for other, less hardy but more competitive species to grow. As succession continues, the intermediate stages of the community gradually replace the pioneer species and provide a more stable and diverse environment for a wide range of organisms to thrive.