T13 Flashcards
What is biomass?
The total mass of living material present at a particular time in a specific place or within certain organisms. It serves as an indicator or energy content. Measured in grams per square meter on land and grams per cubic meter in aquatic environments.
What is the formula for calculating net primary production?
NPP = GPP - R
What is GPP?
Gross primary production
Its the total amount of solar energy that plants convert into organic matter, storing it as chemical energy within their biomass.
What is NPP?
Net primary production
Its the chemical energy that is available to the next trophic level after accounting for respiratory losses (R). It is the energy that is converted into biomass.
What is primary productivity?
The rate of primary production, measured as biomass in a given area in a given time.
What are causes of energy losses at the producer trophic level?
Not all solar energy is captured by leaves
Not all solar energy is of the correct wavelength for photosynthesis
Factors like water availability can limit photosynthesis
Energy is lost during during photosynthetic reactions
What are causes of energy losses at trophic levels above the producer level?
Not all parts of biomass are edible or digestible by consumers
Energy is lost as heat during movement or respiration
Energy is lost in excretory materials, such as urine and faeces
What is the formula for calculating the net production of consumers?
N = I - (F + R)
N - net production
I - energy stored in ingested food
F - energy lost in faeces and urine
R - energy lost through respiration
What is the formula for calculating ecological efficiency?
ecological efficiency = energy or biomass available after transfer/energy or biomass available before transfer x 100
