Production efficiency - ecosystem, Biology

Assignment Help:

Production Efficiency - Ecosystem

The maximum amount of solar energy harvested by plants is about 5 per cent but the average for green plants, on the whole is only a small fraction of sunlight, i.e., 0.02 per cent reaching the atmosphere. The production efficiency that is the ratio of net primary production to gross primary production (of green plants) is on the average rather high. It varies between 40 to 85 per cent. The most efficient are those plants which have low maintenance requirement due to minimum non-photosynthetic (non green) tissues, such as in grasses, algae and phytoplankton. Algae and crops like corn have an efficiency of about 80 to 85 per cent, submerged aquatic plants 60 to 75 per cent, deciduous forests about 42 per cent. Different ecosystems have different productivities.

Productivity of ecosystems depends on a variety of factors such as sunlight, temperature, rainfall and the availability of nutrients. Those situations that provide the best circumstances for plant growth are the most productive. Warm, moist, sunny areas with high levels of nutrients in the soil are ideal. Some areas have low productivity because one of the essential factors is missing. Deserts have low productivity because water is scarce, arctic areas too have low productivity because temperature is low, and open oceans also have low productivity because nutrients are in short supply. Coral reefs and tropical rain forests have high productivity. Marshes and estuaries are-highly productive since waters running into them are rich in the nutrients and they also get enough light.


Related Discussions:- Production efficiency - ecosystem

Helobial type - endosperm, Helobial Type - Endosperm This type of endo...

Helobial Type - Endosperm This type of endosperm is intermediate between the nuclear and the cellular types. The division of the primary endosperm nucleus is followed by the f

Why ascending method of paper chromatography is preferred, Why Ascending Me...

Why Ascending Method of Paper Chromatography is Preferred? The ascending method is preferred because of the simplicity of the set up. In actual method the substance to be separ

What are the general symptoms of brain tumors, What are the general symptom...

What are the general symptoms of brain tumors The general symptoms of brain tumors, which result from increased intracranial pressure, include headache, vomiting, swelling of t

Direct vs. indirect competition model, Pikas (component 1), also known as "...

Pikas (component 1), also known as "rock rabbits" or "coneys", are small relatives of rabbits belonging to the genus Ochotona. The 30 species in this genus are confined to high alt

Define keratomalacia - micronutrient deficiencies, Define Keratomalacia - M...

Define Keratomalacia - Micronutrient Deficiencies? This is a condition of rapid destruction and liquefaction of full thickness of cornea, leading lo prolapse of iris, resulting

What do you mean by ulcerative colitis, Q. What do you mean by Ulcerative C...

Q. What do you mean by Ulcerative Colitis? Let us understand clearly about ulcerative colitis by reading the following case. Varun, a 48-year-old male, had a very successful

Explain spoilage by yeasts, Q. Explain Spoilage by yeasts? Yeasts domin...

Q. Explain Spoilage by yeasts? Yeasts dominate in the spoilage of fruit products which contain high acid content due to their ability to tolerate high acid environment. Yeast

Define the vital force hypothesis, How did Pasteur's experiment answer the ...

How did Pasteur's experiment answer the objections raised by supporters of the "vital force" hypothesis? Pasteur's experiment allowed air from the out- side to mix with air fro

Explain vanishing points., A vanishing point is where parallel lines that m...

A vanishing point is where parallel lines that move off into the distance seem to converge. It's an artifact of perspective. The vanishing point for any set of lines that are paral

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd