Why Is Net Primary Production (NPP)a More Useful Measurement to an Ecosystem

question 67

Multiple Choice

Why is net primary production (NPP) a more useful measurement to an ecosystem ecologist than gross primary production (GPP) ?

• A) NPP can be expressed in energy/unit of area/unit of time.
• B) NPP can be expressed in terms of carbon fixed by photosynthesis for an entire ecosystem.
• C) NPP represents the stored chemical energy that is available to consumers in the ecosystem.
• D) NPP is the same as the standing crop.
• E) NPP shows the rate at which the standing crop is utilized by consumers.

---

Definitions:

Operant Behavior

Behavior that is controlled by its consequences, including rewards and punishments.

Pavlov

A Russian physiologist best known for his discovery of classical conditioning through his experiments with animals.

Skinner

B.F. Skinner, an American psychologist, is known for his development of the theory of behaviorism and the concept of operant conditioning.

Respondent Behavior

A behavior that occurs as an automatic response to a certain stimulus, often used in classical conditioning scenarios.