Net primary productivity and limiting factors

Overview

Net primary productivity and state its units, net primary productivity of tropical rainforest and net primary productivity of a hot desert.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   Define net primary productivity and state its units.

   Model answer

   Net primary productivity is the rate at which producers accumulate new organic matter. Units are usually grams of dry matter per square metre per year.

2. 2

   State the net primary productivity of tropical rainforest.

   Model answer

   Tropical rainforest averages around 2,200 g m⁻² yr⁻¹. That figure is the highest of any land biome.

3. 3

   State the net primary productivity of a hot desert.

   Model answer

   Desert and semi-desert scrub averages only about 90 g m⁻² yr⁻¹. Extreme desert falls to around 3 g m⁻² yr⁻¹.

4. 4

   State the net primary productivity of the Arctic tundra.

   Model answer

   Arctic tundra averages around 140 g m⁻² yr⁻¹. A growing season of only two to three months limits it.

5. 5

   State the net primary productivity of temperate deciduous forest and of boreal forest.

   Model answer

   Temperate deciduous forest averages around 1,200 g m⁻² yr⁻¹. Boreal forest averages about 800 g m⁻² yr⁻¹.

6. 6

   Which ecosystems have the highest net primary productivity of all?

   Model answer

   Coral reefs and algal beds average around 2,500 g m⁻² yr⁻¹, and swamps and marshes around 2,000. Warmth, light, water and abundant nutrients all coincide in those systems.

Other ways to work this

The same content, four other ways.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.