The storage of organic matter used by heterotrophs is termed as :

Options

A. Gross primary production
B. Net secondary production
C. Net production
D. Secondary production

Answer

To answer the question, "The storage of organic matter used by heterotrophs is termed as:", we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Heterotrophs**: Heterotrophs are organisms that cannot produce their own food and rely on consuming organic matter produced by other organisms, primarily plants.

2. **Defining Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)**: GPP refers to the total amount of organic matter produced by photosynthesis in plants. It represents the biomass generated during this process.

3. **Respiratory Losses**: Plants utilize some of the organic matter they produce for their own respiration. This loss of organic matter is termed respiratory losses.

4. **Calculating Net Primary Production (NPP)**: The net primary production is calculated by subtracting the respiratory losses from the gross primary productivity. This represents the amount of organic matter that is available for consumption by heterotrophs.

\[ \text{NPP} = \text{GPP} - \text{Respiratory Losses} \]

5. **Identifying the Storage of Organic Matter for Heterotrophs**: The net primary production (NPP) is the organic matter that is available for herbivores (primary consumers) and, consequently, for other heterotrophs. Therefore, the storage of organic matter used by heterotrophs is termed as **Net Primary Production (NPP)**.

6. **Conclusion**: The correct answer to the question is that the storage of organic matter used by heterotrophs is termed as **Net Primary Production**.