Which Terms Would Be Important to an Ecologist When Measuring

Question

Which terms would be important to an ecologist when measuring primary productivity?
A) Net primary productivity only since all that is important is the actual rate of decomposition of biomass.
B) Gross primary productivity because all that is important is the total amount of energy gained after photosynthesis.
C) Net primary productivity and gross primary productivity because net primary productivity tells you the rate of new biomass produced and gross primary productivity tells you the total fixation of energy via photosynthesis.
D) Only primary productivity; there is no need for an ecologist to look at net or gross primary productivity.

Accepted Answer

Both net and gross primary productivity are important to an ecologist when measuring primary productivity. Net primary productivity tells you the rate of new biomass produced, while gross primary productivity tells you the total fixation of energy via photosynthesis. Together, these measurements provide a more complete understanding of the rate at which energy is being produced and stored by an ecosystem.