Question

Which of the following best describes the net primary productivity of an ecosystem?

Net primary productivity is the amount of energy lost by producers through respiration over time.
Net primary productivity is the amount of energy captured by producers through photosynthesis over time.
Net primary productivity is the amount of energy lost through respiration by producers subtracted from the gross primary
productivity of an ecosystem.
Net primary productivity is the amount of energy lost through respiration by producers added to the gross primary productivity of
an ecosystemhpppp

Answer 1

Net primary productivity is the energy left in producers after respiration and heat loss, which is available to primary consumers.

Step-by-step explanation:

The net primary productivity of an ecosystem is best described as the amount of energy that remains in the primary producers after accounting for the organisms' respiration and heat loss. This net productivity is then available to the primary consumers at the next trophic level. In a specific example from Silver Springs, out of 20,810 kcal/m²/yr of gross primary productivity, 13,187 kcal/m²/yr were used for respiration or lost as heat, leaving 7,633 kcal/m²/yr of energy available for use by primary consumers.