Primary Production
- During photosynthesis, autotrophs can convert light energy into chemical energy stored in biological molecules
- Organisms that do this are known as producers
- The accumulation of carbon compounds in the biomass of autotrophs is known as primary production
- Biomass accumulates when organisms grow and reproduce
- Primary production occurs more quickly in some biomes than in others
- Biomes that have more hours of sunlight, optimum temperatures and higher levels of rainfall will allow photosynthesis to occur at a higher rate, leading to faster primary production
- E.g. tropical forest biomes have high levels of sunlight, rainfall, and ideal temperatures, so primary production occurs very quickly
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Tropical forest biomes have very high rates of primary production due to the high rate at which photosynthesis can occur
Measuring the rate of primary production
- The rate at which producers convert light energy into chemical energy is expressed in units of biomass, per unit area (or volume), per unit time, e.g.
- Using area: g m–2 yr-1 (biomass, per square metre, per year)
- Using volume: g m–3 yr-1 (biomass, per cubic metre, per year)
- Volume would be used when calculating rate of production in aquatic habitats