Key Terms

Question 1

Autotroph

Answer 1

Organism that can produce organic matter from simple substrates present in its surroundings using another energy source

Question 2

Heterotroph

Answer 2

Organism that cannot fix its own carbon and therefore has to consume organic matter for its growth

Question 3

Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)

Answer 3

The rate at which plants take in CO2 and use it to produce carbohydrates through photosynthesis

Question 4

Respiration (Autotrophs) RA

Answer 4

The rate at which carbon is returned to the atmosphere as CO2 during plant metabolism

Question 5

Net Primary Productivity NPP

Answer 5

Rate at which plants produce biomass [GPP - RA)

Question 6

Respiration (Heterotrophs) RH

Answer 6

The rate at which CO2 release to the atmosphere from the decomposition of organic matter from the soil

Question 7

Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP)

Answer 7

Rate at which the whole ecosystem produces biomass (GPP - [RA + RH])