Solar Energy

Primary productivity aka BIOMASS B/c some ecosystems are better at converting solar energy then others, we calc PP to indicate how efficient a partic ecosys is @ convert solar energy *Expressed as a Biomass/Rate-- The dry mass of vegetation produced per unit time (g/m2/yr) Aka BIOMASS The amt of light energy converted to chemical energy in a given amt of time Gross (Total) Primary Productivity (GPP) Not all of all the chemical energy produced is available to be passed on to primary consumers Autotrophs (primary producers) use some of energy themselves for cellular respiration Total primary productivity of an autroph Total amt of energy fixed by plants Net primary productivity (NPP) [GPP] ? [Energy Used by Autotrophs] = [NPP] Expressed as biomass per square meter/yr