Which one of the following quantities best represents the respiratory heat lost by plants in an ecosystem?
A)gross primary productivity
B)net primary productivity
C)gross primary productivity - net primary productivity
D)gross primary productivity - standing crop biomass
E)gross primary productivity - secondary productivity

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Respiratory heat lost by plants in an ecosystem is best represented by the difference between gross primary productivity (GPP) and net primary productivity (NPP). GPP is the total amount of energy or biomass produced through photosynthesis, while NPP is the amount of biomass or energy left after accounting for the energy lost through respiration by the plants. Therefore, GPP - NPP gives the amount of energy lost as respiratory heat.

Which One of the Following Quantities Best Represents the Respiratory