Net Primary Productivity

Net Primary Productivity (NPP) refers to the amount of organic matter, or biomass, that plants produce through photosynthesis, minus what they use for their own energy needs through respiration. Essentially, it measures how much energy is available to support life in an ecosystem. High NPP indicates a healthy environment with abundant plant growth, which in turn supports animals and other organisms. It is a crucial concept in ecology because it helps scientists understand the productivity of different ecosystems, such as forests, grasslands, and oceans, and their ability to sustain various forms of life.