10: Productivity Flashcards
Do all ecosystems handle/capture the same amount of energy?
No
What is energy flow?
the flow of energy begins with the trapping of solar energy by producers through photosynthesis
What is primary production?
autotrophs perform this through photosynthesis
What is gross primary production (GPP)?
the rate by which the chemical energy is produced by autotrophs; it is the amount of light energy converted into chemical energy (in the form of organic compounds) by autotrophs in a period
- speed, amount, quantity of energy that is captured by autotrophs
- gives an idea of how much is captured by the producers
What ecosystems will have a larger GPP: a prairie or a desert?
a prairie will have a larger GPP
What is net primary productivity (NPP)?
energy leftover after what the plant got for itself
- energy or biomass that remains in an ecosystem after autotrophs have used enough for their own maintenance through cellular respiration
- THE ENERGY AVAILABLE FOR HETEROTROPHS
In the following equation, what is represented by X? GPP – X = NPP
cellular respiration (GPP - Cellular respiration = NPP)
What is the primary productivity equation?
NPP = GPP – R (respiration)
What factors may influence productivity?
light, temperature, precipitation, chlorophyll, and availability of inorganic nutrients
What are inorganic nutrients?
elements and compounds that organisms need for survival
- ex: phosphorus, nitrogen, etc.
Which biomes have higher NPP? Lower?
higher—tropical rainforest, boreal forest, savanna, grassland
lowest—tundra, desert
What is the distribution of NPP?
closest to equator: areas of very high primary productivity
far from equator: areas of very low primary productivity
