Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms

Difference Between

Home / Science & Nature / Science / Biology / Difference Between Gross Primary Production (GPP) and Net Primary Production (NPP)

Difference Between Gross Primary Production (GPP) and Net Primary Production (NPP)

March 25, 2012 Posted by Admin

Gross Primary Production (GPP) vs Net Primary Production (NPP)
 

Even though earth is a closed system for materials and nutrients, it is an open system for the energy. Primary production is the process which inorganic compounds such as water and carbon dioxide are converted into organic compounds through living organisms using an energy source. Although the main energy source is sunlight, some organisms use chemical energy to produce organic compounds.

The process that uses sun light as the energy source to produce organic compounds is called photosynthesis. Organisms that involve in photosynthesis are known as autotrophs or primary producers. Some organisms use chemical energy from the oxidation or reduction of chemical compounds as the energy source, so they are called lithotrophic organisms. Portion of the fixed energy is used to internal processes such as respiration and photorespiration (Taylor, 1998).

However, in the primary production process, complex organic compounds such as carbohydrate are synthesized from simple inorganic compounds. The fixed energy flows through food chains to consumers who are heterotrophs.

As the latitude earth surface varies, total fixation of energy may also differ from location to location, and different locations vary with the amount of vegetation. Some energy is lost due to the reflection, radiation, and heat of the evaporation. So, primary production varies spatially and temporally.

However, this is an important phenomenon to determine the total energy flow through the living organisms and determination of biomass production.

Gross Primary Production (GPP)

Gross primary production is the total energy fixed as organic compounds including energy used for the respiration. Further explaining, gross production is the total carbon dioxide fixed by autotrophs per unit of time . So, it includes the energy fixed by photoautotrophs and chemoutotrophs. Unit of the GPP is Maas/Area/Time.

GPP can be theoretically calculated since all inorganic components are converted into organic compounds; i.e. sugar. So by measuring sugar, GPP can be calculated.

Net Primary Production (NPP)

Net primary production is the energy fixed as organic compounds or total biomass excluding the energy used for respiration. This is the potential available energy for the next level. So, this NPP is used to maintain the plant processes and food for consumers. Unit of the NPP is the same as GPP; i.e. Maas/Area/Time.

 

What is the difference between Gross Primary Production (GPP) and Net Primary Production (NPP)?

• The main difference between GPP and NPP is that gross primary production is the total energy fixed as organic compounds including energy used for the respiration, whereas the net primary production is the energy fixed as organic compounds or total biomass excluding the energy used for respiration.

• GPP is difficult to calculate because it is hard to accurately determine the energy used for metabolic processes such as respiration, as it is an ongoing process, whereas NPP is easy to calculate because it excludes respiration.

• GPP is measured during night using Eddy covariance system, since it measures respiration of biotic objects of the ecosystem, whereas NPP doesn’t need that calculation since respiration of plant is excluded .

• Measurement of NPP is generally used in terrestrial systems than GPP since accuracy is low .

 

Reference

Taylor, D.J., Green N.P.O., Stout, G.W., (1998), Biological Science. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

Related posts:

Difference Between Bryophytes and TracheophytesDifference Between Bryophytes and Tracheophytes Difference Between Grain and Wheat Difference Between Food Chain and Food PyramidDifference Between Food Chain and Food Pyramid Difference Between Symbiosis and MutualismDifference Between Symbiosis and Mutualism Difference Between Virulence and PathogenicityDifference Between Virulence and Pathogenicity

Filed Under: Biology Tagged With: GPP, Gross Primary Production, Net Primary Production, NPP, Primary production

About the Author: Admin

Coming from Engineering cum Human Resource Development background, has over 10 years experience in content developmet and management.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Request Article

Featured Posts

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

You May Like

Difference Between Volvox Paramecium and Euglena

Difference Between Volvox Paramecium and Euglena

What is the Difference Between Bugs and Beetles

What is the Difference Between Bugs and Beetles

Difference Between Bacteria and Yeast

Difference Between Alimentary Canal and Digestive System

Difference Between Alimentary Canal and Digestive System

What is the Difference Between Care and Concern

What is the Difference Between Care and Concern

Latest Posts

  • What is the Difference Between Anesthesia and Paresthesia
  • What is the Difference Between Voice Over and Dubbing
  • What is the Difference Between Centric Occlusion and Centric Relation
  • What is the Difference Between Foundation and BB Cream
  • What is the Difference Between Cybrids and Hybrids
  • What is the Difference Between Hapten and Adjuvant
  • Home
  • Vacancies
  • About
  • Request Article
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2010-2018 Difference Between. All rights reserved. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy: Legal.