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

Which groups does not contain a carbonyl, Which of the following functional...

Which of the following functional groups does NOT contain a carbonyl? Select one: a. Aldehyde b. Carboxyl c. Phosphate d. Amide e. Organic ester

Define carbohydrates needs in postoperative nutritional care, Define Carboh...

Define Carbohydrates needs in Postoperative Nutritional Care? Carbohydrates ensure the use of protein for tissue synthesis and energy required for increased metabolic demands.

Cell biology, what is morphological diversity of prokaryotes ans eukaryotes...

what is morphological diversity of prokaryotes ans eukaryotes

Bio212, do you think the social and cultural environment of the 18th and 19...

do you think the social and cultural environment of the 18th and 19th centuries helped or hindered the study of microbiology in particular and science in general

Explain about battery, Explain about Battery Battery:  Two electrodes ...

Explain about Battery Battery:  Two electrodes (zinc and carbon) placed in electrolyte (dilute sulfuric acid).  Chemical reactions in electrolyte force positive charges to

Write the positive ion isoelectronic with neon, Write the positive ion isoe...

Write the positive ion isoelectronic with neon The positive ion isoelectronic with neon must have 10 electrons and 11 protons, and thus must have an  atomic number = 11. This i

Optical defects of eye, Give an introduction for optical defects, of eye fo...

Give an introduction for optical defects, of eye for an assignment?

Nutrient availability, Nutrient Availability You have seen that cation ...

Nutrient Availability You have seen that cation exchange plays an important part in nutrient availability to plants. Cation exchange functions in two ways as nutrients are rele

Discuss in brief about human nose, Nose Nose consists of external and i...

Nose Nose consists of external and internal parts. The inner lining of the nose contains millions of small receptors. These receptors are located on the sensory hairs.

Explain about the macro minerals, Explain about the Macro Minerals? Pre...

Explain about the Macro Minerals? Previously we learnt about the structure, properties, deficiencies/toxicity and recommended dietary intakes of several vitamins. In this unit,

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