What is the Rate at Which an Ecosystem's Producers Capture

Question

What is the rate at which an ecosystem's producers capture and store energy?  
A) Primary production
B) Secondary production
C) Autotrophic output
D) Biomass
E) Primary consumption

Accepted Answer

Primary production refers to the rate at which producers in an ecosystem (such as plants or algae) capture and store energy through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. This energy is then available to other organisms through consumption, and is a key factor in determining the overall productivity of an ecosystem. Secondary production (B) refers to the energy that is gained by organisms through consuming other organisms, while autotrophic output (C) and biomass (D) are related concepts but do not specifically refer to the rate at which energy is captured and stored by producers. Primary consumption (E) refers to the consumption of producers by herbivores, and is not directly related to the rate of energy capture and storage.