Productivity

Q1: Define productivity.

Answer:

Ecosystem productivity can be defined as the energy supplied to a particular ecosystem in the form of biomass or the rate at which biomass is produced in an ecosystem.

Q2: Why do oceans contribute very little to the productivity of the ecosystem?

Answer:

Oceans have very low productivity due to which they contribute very little to the ecosystem. This is because the photosynthesis capacity of plants on land is much greater than that of the sea. This makes a huge difference to productivity on land and at sea. Lack of light in deep oceans is also one of the causes of the low productivity of oceans.

Q3: When will the productivity of all ecosystems be about the same?

Answer:

According to experts, when drought occurs, the productivity of all ecosystems becomes nearly the same, as plants adapt to the conditions by using water efficiently when drought occurs.

Q4: Calculate the net primary productivity if gross primary productivity from plants is 400J and 50J is spent in respiration.

Answer:

We know that net primary productivity (NPP) is the difference between GPP and respiration. Thus, it can be calculated as follows:

NPP = GPP – Respiration

NPP = 400J – 50J = 350J

Thus, the net primary productivity is 350J.

Productivity is an essential component of an ecosystem and is responsible for the sustenance of life in the ecosystem. The higher the productivity of an ecosystem, more is the energy available in that ecosystem. This energy that is available in the ecosystem keeps transferring from plants to animals and back to plants. The productivity of an ecosystem also influences the diversity of the ecosystem. An ecosystem with higher productivity has higher diversity as compared to an ecosystem with lesser productivity. The productivity of an ecosystem is responsible for the stability of an ecosystem.