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

Placenta, PLACENTA - A common tissue of foetus & mother (uterus) which ...

PLACENTA - A common tissue of foetus & mother (uterus) which is physical, physiological & endocrinal connection is known as placenta. FUNCTIO N - To provide nutrients

Explain conventional amphotericin, Conventional amphotericin Amphoteri...

Conventional amphotericin Amphotericin B deoxycholate (Fungizone, and others), the old non-lipid formulation of amphotericin, is by far the least expensive, but the developmen

Need help!!!, im stuck on this question where we have to make a table of av...

im stuck on this question where we have to make a table of averages using quadrats and transect lines can you help me?

Ways to adapt to stress, Ways to adapt to stress Now that you know the...

Ways to adapt to stress Now that you know the nature of stress, let us see what type of strategies plants have acquired to adapt to stress. You know that biological functions

Explain the barrier function in the cornea, Explain the barrier function in...

Explain the barrier function in the cornea. Barrier Function: It is the first line of barrier between the external environment and the corneal stroma. The superficial epi

Meosis, briefly describe the eggs and follicles

briefly describe the eggs and follicles

Explain the mechanism of temperature regulation, Any significant variation ...

Any significant variation in the internal temperature could have damaging effects on the body's enzymes. Homeotherms or warm-blooded animals including human can however generate co

Are gametes always made by meiosis, Q. Are gametes always made by meiosis? ...

Q. Are gametes always made by meiosis? In the haplontic haplobiontic life cycle and in the plant life cycle (diplobiontic life cycle) gametes are made by mitosis and not by mei

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