Primary and Secondary production

what is production in ecosystems

the accumulation of carbon compounds in the form of biomass

what happens when organisms grow

biomass accumulates

how can productivity be measured

• primary productivity

• secondary productivity

what is gross primary productivity

the total biomass of carbon compounds made in plants by photosynthesis (GPP)

what is the net primary productivity

GPP minus biomass lost due to respiration of the plant and available consumers

what is secondary productivity

accumulation of C compounds in biomass by animals and heterotrophs through the ingestion of sugars and amino acids

what is followed up after the intake of sugars and amino acids

the build up of these compounds into macromolecules