The percentage of incident solar radiation trapped by producers to perform photosysnthesis and produce gross primary productivity is called

Options

A. Assimilation efficiency
B. Net production efficiency
C. Tropic level efficiency
D. Photosynthesis efficiency

Answer

To solve the question regarding the percentage of incident solar radiation trapped by producers to perform photosynthesis and produce gross primary productivity, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Concept of Solar Radiation in Ecosystems**:
- The sun is the primary source of energy for all ecosystems on Earth. Plants, as producers, utilize solar energy to perform photosynthesis.

2. **Identify the Relevant Terms**:
- The question mentions terms like "gross primary productivity" and "photosynthesis," which are crucial in understanding how producers convert solar energy into chemical energy.

3. **Define Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR)**:
- Less than 50% of the total solar radiation is Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR), which is the portion of sunlight that plants can use for photosynthesis.

4. **Determine the Efficiency of Photosynthesis**:
- It is noted that plants typically capture only about 2-10% of the PAR for photosynthesis. This efficiency is what the question is asking about.

5. **Evaluate the Given Options**:
- 1. Assimilation efficiency: This refers to the percentage of food energy taken into the guts of consumers, not relevant here.
- 2. Net production efficiency: This relates to the energy stored by producers after accounting for respiration, not the percentage of solar energy captured.
- 3. Trophic level efficiency: This pertains to the energy transfer between trophic levels, not the initial capture of solar energy.
- 4. Photosynthesis efficiency: This is the correct term that describes the percentage of incident solar radiation that producers trap for photosynthesis.

6. **Conclude the Answer**:
- Based on the definitions and evaluations, the correct answer to the question is **Photosynthesis efficiency**.

### Final Answer:
The percentage of incident solar radiation trapped by producers to perform photosynthesis and produce gross primary productivity is called **photosynthesis efficiency**.