Ecological Productivity and Related Concepts

These flashcards cover key concepts related to ecological productivity, energy transfer in ecosystems, and the implications of biomagnification.

Gross Primary Production (GPP)

Total solar energy captured and fixed by autotrophs.

Respiration (R)

Energy autotrophs use for their own metabolism, typically 25% to 75% of GPP.

Net Primary Production (NPP)

The energy left after respiration, available for growth and consumption by other organisms.

Energy Transfer in Ecosystems

At each trophic level, a large part of energy is lost to respiration.

Ecological Pyramids

Illustrate how productivity declines with increasing trophic level due to inefficiencies in energy transfer.

Photoautotrophs

Organisms that use sunlight to make food through photosynthesis, including plants and algae.

Chemoautotrophs

Specialized bacteria that obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic chemicals instead of using sunlight.

Biomass

The rate at which energy is captured by autotrophs and converted into organic material, measured in dry weight per unit area.

Biomagnification

The accumulation and increase of toxic substances in concentration as they move up the food chain.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that cannot make their own food and rely on other organisms for energy.