Final answer:
The incorrect statement about net primary productivity (NPP) is the one that suggests it includes only the aboveground biomass. NPP measures the energy accumulation in an ecosystem, after accounting for the energy used in respiration, and includes both aboveground and belowground biomass.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that does not correctly represent net primary productivity (NPP) is: 'Net primary productivity is the amount of carbon fixed minus the amount used during cellular respiration and includes only the aboveground biomass in terrestrial biomes.' This statement is incorrect because NPP accounts for both aboveground and belowground biomass in terrestrial ecosystems, not just aboveground.
Net primary productivity is the measurement of the energy accumulation within an ecosystem, calculated as the total amount of carbon fixed per year minus the amount that is oxidized during cellular respiration. This measurement is significant as it indicates the amount of organic matter available to consumers in an ecosystem after plants have met their own energy needs.
The correct understanding of NPP is that it is the rate at which all photosynthetic primary producers, such as plants, incorporate energy from the sun and then use some of this energy for respiration and other functions, with the remainder being the energy available to higher trophic levels. Thus, net primary productivity is a critical concept for understanding energy flow in ecosystems and the ability of ecosystems to support various forms of life, including human life.