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Multiple Choice
Which term refers to the total rate of photosynthesis in a given area over a specific period of time?
A
Gross primary productivity (GPP)
B
Net primary productivity (NPP)
C
Respiratory quotient (RQ)
D
Photosynthetic efficiency
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the key terms in the question: Gross Primary Productivity (GPP), Net Primary Productivity (NPP), Respiratory Quotient (RQ), and Photosynthetic Efficiency. Each term has a specific biological meaning.
Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) refers to the total amount of energy captured by photosynthesis in a given area over a specific period of time, before any energy is used for respiration.
Net Primary Productivity (NPP) is the energy remaining after plants use some of the captured energy for their own respiration. It is calculated as: , where R is the energy used in respiration.
Respiratory Quotient (RQ) is a ratio that measures the amount of carbon dioxide produced to oxygen consumed during respiration. It is unrelated to photosynthesis rates.
Photosynthetic Efficiency refers to the percentage of light energy converted into chemical energy during photosynthesis. It does not measure the total rate of photosynthesis. Based on these definitions, the term that matches the question is Gross Primary Productivity (GPP).