A Graduate Student Has Told You That the Average Net

question 37

Multiple Choice

A graduate student has told you that the average net primary productivity (NPP) per area is greater on land than in oceans despite the fact that their total NPP potential is the same.What is one possible reason for this difference?

• A) Terrestrial systems always have the highest NPP because terrestrial animals need to consume more biomass than oceanic organisms
• B) She is not correct. Oceans will always have the highest NPP because there is such an abundance of phyto- and zoo- plankton
• C) Per area, land will have an average NPP greater than oceans because oceans cover much more of Earths total area
• D) The NPP per area is equal between land and ocean