The biomass available for consumption by the herbivores and the decomposers is called

Options

A. net primary productivity
B. secondary productivity
C. standing crop
D. gross primary productivity.

Answer

A

Explanation

The amount of energy accumulation in green plants as biomass or organic matter per unit area over a time period is known as primary productivity. The rate of total capture of energy or the rate of total production of organic material (biomass) during photosynthesis, is know as gross primary productivity, However, while the energy capturing process is operating in the green tissues, these as well as other tissues are consuming energy in respiration. The balance energy or biomass remaining after meeting the cost of respiration of producers, is called net primary productivity.
Net primary productivity= Gross primary productivity-Respiration rate
The net primary productivity results in the accumulation of plant biomass, which serves as the food of herbivores and decomposers.