Net Primary Production (NPP) is equal to Gross Primary Production minus what?

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Multiple Choice

Net Primary Production (NPP) is equal to Gross Primary Production minus what?

Explanation:
Net Primary Production shows the amount of carbon that stays in plant biomass after the plants use some of the fixed carbon for their own metabolism. Gross Primary Production is the total carbon fixed by photosynthesis. Plants respire, using energy and releasing CO2, so the net gain in biomass is GPP minus plant respiration. That’s why the correct expression is GPP minus plant respiration. The other ideas don’t fit: adding respiration would inflate the net gain, total carbon fixed by photosynthesis is just GPP, and carbon fixed by soil bacteria isn’t part of the plant’s net carbon gain.

Net Primary Production shows the amount of carbon that stays in plant biomass after the plants use some of the fixed carbon for their own metabolism. Gross Primary Production is the total carbon fixed by photosynthesis. Plants respire, using energy and releasing CO2, so the net gain in biomass is GPP minus plant respiration. That’s why the correct expression is GPP minus plant respiration. The other ideas don’t fit: adding respiration would inflate the net gain, total carbon fixed by photosynthesis is just GPP, and carbon fixed by soil bacteria isn’t part of the plant’s net carbon gain.

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