Net primary production is available for plant growth and reproduction and to other trophic levels
After plants use some energy for respiration, the remaining energy — called net primary production — goes into growing new plant tissue. Herbivores and other organisms can then access that stored energy by eating the plant.
Real World
In the Serengeti, the NPP of grasses supports over 1.5 million wildebeest during the annual migration — without that net production, the entire grazing food web would collapse.
Exam Focus
When asked what NPP is 'available for', always include both plant growth/reproduction and transfer to other trophic levels.
Evaluation Scaffold
A four-step framework for high-quality evaluation. Use this for 'assess', 'evaluate', and 'to what extent' questions.
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