1.8 Primary Productivity

Solar energy is acquired and transferred by living organisms through the process of:

• photosynthesis

• respiration

• digestion

• fermentation

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What is primary productivity?

• Primary productivity is the rate at which solar energy (sunlight) is converted into organic compounds via photosynthesis over a unit of time.

• Primary productivity is the rate at which organic compounds are converted back into solar energy.

• Primary productivity is the process of breaking down organic compounds into inorganic substances.

• Primary productivity is the rate at which energy is lost from the ecosystem through respiration.

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NGSS.HS-LS1-5

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Define gross primary productivity.

• Gross primary productivity is the total rate of photosynthesis in a given area.

• Gross primary productivity is the net rate of photosynthesis after respiration losses.

• Gross primary productivity is the amount of energy stored in plant biomass.

• Gross primary productivity is the rate of energy transfer between trophic levels.

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What is net primary productivity?

• Net primary productivity is the rate of energy storage by photosynthesizers in a given area, after subtracting the energy lost to respiration.

• Net primary productivity is the total biomass produced by photosynthesizers in a given area.

• Net primary productivity is the amount of sunlight absorbed by plants in a given area.

• Net primary productivity is the rate of energy consumption by herbivores in a given area.

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How is productivity measured?

• Productivity is measured in units of energy per unit area per unit time (e.g. kcal/m2/yr).

• Productivity is measured in units of distance per unit time (e.g. km/hr).

• Productivity is measured in units of volume per unit time (e.g. liters/hr).

• Productivity is measured in units of mass per unit time (e.g. kg/hr).

Light absorption affects photosynthesis in aquatic ecosystems by:

• Increasing the rate of photosynthesis by providing energy for the process

• Decreasing the rate of photosynthesis by blocking sunlight

• Having no effect on the rate of photosynthesis

• Causing photosynthesis to occur only at night

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NGSS.HS-LS1-5

PP stands for ______ in the context of ecology.

• Primary Production

• Population Pressure

• Pollution Prevention

• Plant Physiology

The units of measurement for Primary Productivity (PP) are:

• grams per square meter per year (g/m²/yr)

• liters per second (L/s)

• joules per hour (J/h)

• meters per second (m/s)

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NGSS.HS-LS2-5

Which of the following statements is true about ecosystems with high PP?

• They have less biodiversity.

• They have more biodiversity.

• They have no biodiversity.

• They have the same biodiversity as low PP ecosystems.

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What does Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) refer to?

• The energy captured minus the energy respired by producers

• The total amount of solar energy captured by producers via photosynthesis over time

• The energy lost to respiration

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NGSS.HS-LS2-5