Final answer:
Three methods for measuring biomass or net primary productivity include direct harvesting, gas exchange measurements, and remote sensing. Indirect methods such as assessing ATP formation can also estimate cell growth.
Step-by-step explanation:
Three methods of measuring biomass and/or net primary productivity (NPP) include:
- Direct harvesting - This involves physically collecting samples of plants or algae and then determining their dry weight, which provides a direct measure of the biomass.
- Gas exchange measurements - This method tracks the intake of carbon dioxide (CO2) and the release of oxygen (O2) to estimate photosynthesis and respiration rates, from which NPP can be calculated.
- Remote sensing - Advanced technologies like satellites or drones are used to scan large areas of vegetation, providing estimates of biomass and NPP through analysis of reflected light in various wavelengths.
Indirect methods like measuring metabolic activity, such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) formation, can also provide estimates of cell growth and hence bioactivity.