Net Primary Productivity is Highest in ____

Question

Net Primary Productivity is highest in ____.
A)open oceans as nutrients are plentiful
B)open oceans as disturbance is minimized
C)shallow systems as nutrients are plentiful
D)shallow systems as temperatures are cooler
E)open oceans as sunlight is plentiful

Accepted Answer

Shallow systems, such as estuaries, wetlands, and coral reefs, have high net primary productivity because they receive ample amounts of nutrients from adjacent land and they have high rates of photosynthesis due to the shallow water depths that allow sunlight to penetrate to the bottom. Open oceans have lower net primary productivity because nutrients are limited and disturbance events, such as storms or waves, can disrupt primary producers. While sunlight is plentiful in the open ocean, it is not a limiting factor for primary productivity.