What Does The Term “Secondary Productivity” In Ecology Mean?

Secondary production refers to the formation of living mass of a heterotrophic population or group over time. It is the rate of biomass formation or energy fixation by heterotrophic organisms, such as grazers and decomposers. Secondary production is analogous to net primary production of autotrophs and is the generation of new heterotrophic biomass. The efficiency at which energy is transferred from one trophic level to another is also important in characterizing energy flow within an ecosystem.

Secondary production (SP) typically refers to the growth rate of heterotrophic biomass. Only a small fraction of the organic matter ingested by heterotrophic organisms is used to produce secondary production. This lecture aims to help students understand the structure of food webs and how energy flows through an ecosystem, constructing an energy budget.

Ecosystem-level values of net primary productivity and herbivore biomass, consumption, and secondary productivity in terrestrial ecosystems were assembled from the study. Secondary productivity is defined as the amount of chemical energy and biomass produced by heterotrophic organisms at a given location and time. Factors such as feeding habits, light, temperature, and salinity influence their secondary productivity.

The production of organic matter by consumers is called secondary productivity. In this process, the energy is obtained by the transfer of energy. Secondary productivity is one portion of energy flow in a community, which includes the ingestion and assimilation of energy and the expenditure of energy in the community. Productivity means the rate of production, expressed in units of mass per unit area per unit time.


📹 Secondary Productivity


What is secondary production with example?

Secondary production encompasses the transformation of raw materials into finished goods, which are subsequently employed by tertiary industries, including manufacturing plants and construction companies. In contrast, tertiary production encompasses the sale of finished goods produced by secondary industries, including wholesalers and retailers, as well as communication services.

What are the examples of secondary productivity?

Secondary production is a process involving organisms such as animals, protists, fungi, and bacteria. Estimating secondary production can be done using methods like increment summation, removal summation, instantaneous growth method, and Allen curve method. The choice of method depends on the ecosystem’s assumptions, such as cohort distinction, linear mortality, and exponential population growth. Net ecosystem production (NEP) is calculated by dividing gross primary production (GPP) by ecosystem respiration. NEP focuses on autotrophic production, while NPP focuses on other ecosystem aspects contributing to the total carbon budget. The list of ecosystems in order of decreasing productivity is provided.

What is a secondary producer in an ecosystem?

In a food chain, secondary producers are herbivores, which feed on plants and fruits for predators. They utilize a grinding mechanism comprising wide, flat teeth to process grass and tree parts. The term “primary consumer” is used to describe producers, while the term “secondary consumer” is used to describe autotrophs, including phytoplankton and green plants, which are themselves consumers. Tertiary consumers are responsible for the production of food.

What is the example of secondary productivity?
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What is the example of secondary productivity?

Productivity in ecology refers to the rate of biomass generation in an ecosystem, expressed in units of mass per volume per unit of time. It is influenced by factors such as nutrient availability, temperature, and water availability. Primary productivity, a process dominated by photosynthesis, is the synthesis of organic material from inorganic molecules in most ecosystems. Aquatic primary productivity refers to the production of organic matter in aquatic ecosystems, while terrestrial primary productivity refers to the organic matter production in terrestrial ecosystems.

Primary production is divided into Net Primary Production (NPP) and Gross Primary Production (GPP). Gross primary production measures all carbon assimilated into organic molecules by primary producers, while Net primary production measures the organic molecules by primary producers. Net primary production does not include organic molecules broken down again by organisms for biological processes like cellular respiration.

The formula to calculate NPP is net primary production = gross primary production – respiration. Understanding ecological productivity is crucial for understanding how ecosystems function and support life.

What is difference between primary and secondary secondary?

Primary sources are firsthand, contemporary accounts of events created by individuals during a specific period or years later, such as correspondence, diaries, and personal histories. They can be found in various media, including print, artwork, and audio and visual recordings. Primary sources contain raw information and require researchers to interpret them. Secondary sources, on the other hand, are documents related to information that originated elsewhere and often use generalizations, analysis, interpretation, and synthesis of primary sources. Examples of secondary sources include textbooks, articles, and reference books.

What does secondary productivity in an ecosystem indicate?

Secondary productivity refers to the organic matter synthesized by primary consumers or herbivores in aquatic ecosystems. The productivity is limited by factors such as nutrient supply and humidity. Free textbook solutions for various subjects, such as math, physics, and biology, are available for various boards and exams. Additionally, free NCERT solutions are available for various English mediums, including Class 12 and Class 11 English Medium, Class 10 English Medium, Class 9 English Medium, Class 8 English Medium, Class 7 English Medium, and Class 6 English Medium. These solutions aim to provide comprehensive and accurate solutions for students preparing for various exams and competitive examinations.

What is the difference between primary and secondary productivity in the ecosystem?

Primary production is the conversion of light energy into chemical energy by autotrophs, such as plants and algae, through photosynthesis. This process is crucial for ecosystem balance as it provides energy and nutrients for the survival of other organisms. Secondary production, on the other hand, involves the consumption of food for growth, and is essential for maintaining food webs and ecosystems. Both processes are essential for maintaining the balance of ecosystems and promoting the growth and survival of all living organisms.

What does secondary mean in ecology?
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What does secondary mean in ecology?

Secondary succession is a type of ecological succession where plants and animals recolonize a habitat after a major disturbance, such as a flood, wildfire, landslide, lava flow, or human activity, but not completely rendering it lifeless. This type of succession is distinct from primary succession, which occurs when a biological community develops where no life existed before. Secondary succession occurs when a disturbance does not eliminate all life and nutrients from the environment, as the soil retains nutrients and seeds set down before the disturbance.

Buried seeds can sprout shortly after the disturbance, and some species may be adapted to the frequent passage of a particular disturbance. For example, the jack pine tree species in the northeastern U. S. and Canada requires heat from a wildfire to open its cones before seeds can be spread for new growth.

Which ecosystem has highest secondary productivity?
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Which ecosystem has highest secondary productivity?

Productivity in ecology refers to the rate at which biomass is generated in an ecosystem, often expressed in mass per volume per unit of time. Primary productivity in ecosystems involves the accumulation of energy in the form of biomass, with coral reefs having the highest productivity in aquatic ecosystems and tropical rainforests having the highest productivity in terrestrial ecosystems. Primary production is the synthesis of organic material from inorganic molecules, with photosynthesis dominating in most ecosystems.

Net Primary Production (NPP) and Gross Primary Production (GPP) are terms used to describe primary production. Gross primary production refers to the total amount of carbon absorbed by primary producers into organic molecules, while net primary production measures the amount of carbon assimilated into organic molecules by primary producers. Ecological productivity includes the primary fixation of solar energy by plants and the subsequent use of that energy by plant-eating herbivores, animal-eating carnivores, and detritivores that feed on dead biomass.

What is secondary productivity in the marine ecosystem?
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What is secondary productivity in the marine ecosystem?

Ocean productivity is primarily the production of organic matter by phytoplankton, plants suspended in the ocean, which are photoautotrophs that harvest light to convert inorganic to organic carbon. They supply this organic carbon to diverse heterotrophs, which obtain their energy solely from the respiration of organic matter. Open ocean heterotrophs include bacteria, zooplankton, nekton, and benthos.

There are many nested cycles of carbon associated with ocean productivity, including gross primary production (GPP), net primary production (NPP), and secondary production (SP). Gross primary production (GPP) refers to the total rate of organic carbon production by autotrophs, while respiration refers to the energy-yielding oxidation of organic carbon back to carbon dioxide. Net primary production (NPP) is GPP minus the autotrophs’ own rate of respiration, indicating the rate at which the full metabolism of phytoplankton produces biomass.

Secondary production (SP) typically refers to the growth rate of heterotrophic biomass. Only a small fraction of the organic matter ingested by heterotrophic organisms is used to grow, with the majority being respired back to dissolved inorganic carbon and nutrients that can be reused by autotrophs. Fisheries rely on SP and depend on both NPP and the efficiency with which organic matter is transferred up the foodweb (SP/NPP ratio).

Net ecosystem production (NEP) is GPP minus the respiration by all organisms in the ecosystem. The value of NEP depends on the boundaries defined for the ecosystem. For example, NEP for the entire ocean is roughly equivalent to the slow burial of organic matter in the sediments minus the rate of organic matter entering from the continents.

Productivity in the surface ocean is connected to nutrient cycling, with the blue cycle representing net ecosystem production (NEP), the red cycle representing the fate of organic matter produced in the surface ocean, and the green cycle representing the internal respiration of phytoplankton themselves. These nested cycles combine to yield gross primary production (GPP) and net primary production (NPP), with imbalances on small scales of space and time allowing for brief accumulations of biomass.

What is the difference between primary and secondary ecology?
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What is the difference between primary and secondary ecology?

Primary succession occurs in environments without previous life or barren habitats, while secondary succession occurs in areas that were once inhabited but experienced disturbances like wildfires. Primary succession involves the colonization of a new environment lacking organisms and plant life, while secondary succession occurs in environments that once supported life but were abandoned due to ecological disturbances, such as the colonization of new land formed by lava flow.


📹 Primary productivity in ecosystems| Matter and Energy Flow| AP Environmental Science| Khan Academy

Primary productivity is the rate at which solar energy (sunlight) is converted into organic compounds via photosynthesis over a unit …


What Does The Term
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Rae Fairbanks Mosher

I’m a mother, teacher, and writer who has found immense joy in the journey of motherhood. Through my blog, I share my experiences, lessons, and reflections on balancing life as a parent and a professional. My passion for teaching extends beyond the classroom as I write about the challenges and blessings of raising children. Join me as I explore the beautiful chaos of motherhood and share insights that inspire and uplift.

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