Which of the following levels is found immediately below the kingdom level in the taxonomic hierarchy?

The level that is found immediately below the kingdom level in the taxonomic hierarchy is phylum. In the system of biological classification, organisms are grouped into hierarchical categories that reflect their evolutionary relationships and characteristics.

The broadest category is the kingdom, and within each kingdom, organisms are further categorized into phyla (the plural of phylum) based on major traits and evolutionary lineage. For example, within the kingdom Animalia, one might find the phylum Chordata, which includes all animals with a notochord.

Following phyla, the hierarchy continues with class, then order, and then family, genus, and species. This structured classification aids in organizing the vast diversity of life on Earth and provides a framework for understanding biological relationships. Thus, phylum is the appropriate level that directly follows kingdom in this hierarchy.