5.1.6 - Net Primary Productivity

Question 1

What Is Meant By ‘Producers’?
(2 Points)

Answer 1

~ Organisms that produce organic molecules, using sunlight.

~ E.g. Plants.

Question 2

What Is Meant By ‘Primary Productivity’?

Answer 2

The rate at which producers convert light energy into chemical energy.

Question 3

What Is Meant By ‘Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)’?

Answer 3

The rate at which chemical energy is converted into carbohydrates, during photosynthesis.

Question 4

What Is Meant By ‘Net Primary Productivity (NPP)’?

Answer 4

The rate at which energy is stored in plant biomass.

Question 5

What Is Meant By ‘Biomass’?

Answer 5

The mass of living material.

Question 6

How Is NPP Calculated?
(2 Points)

Answer 6

~ GPP - Plant Respiration Losses / GPP - R

~ NPP, is lower when it’s cold, due to less photosynthesis.

Question 7

Why Is NPP Important?
(2 Points)

Answer 7

~ Represent the energy that is available to organisms at higher tropic levels

~ Such as primary consumers and decomposers.

Question 8

What Is Meant By ‘Tropic Level’?

Answer 8

Position of an organism in a food chain.