Description
npp = gross-autotrophic respiration; netEcosystemProduction additionally subtracts heterotrophic respiration.
Ecological energy and nutrient efficiencies depend on which production, ingestion, assimilation or concentration basis is used. Molar nutrient ratios differ from mass ratios, and a local balance is not a complete ecosystem budget.
npp = gross-autotrophic respiration; netEcosystemProduction additionally subtracts heterotrophic respiration.
When to use this tool
Use Net Primary Production Gross Respiration Gap when checking a supplied ecological budget or nutrient-normalization term.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter grossProduction, autotrophicRespiration, heterotrophicRespiration. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read npp, netEcosystemProduction. Use the output convention below.
Require nonnegative grossProduction, autotrophicRespiration and heterotrophicRespiration. npp = gross-autotrophic respiration; netEcosystemProduction additionally subtracts heterotrophic respiration.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| grossProduction | Gross Production | Required. Finite number; minimum 0. |
| autotrophicRespiration | Autotrophic Respiration | Required. Finite number; minimum 0. |
| heterotrophicRespiration | Heterotrophic Respiration | Required. Finite number; minimum 0. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| npp | Npp | Required. Finite number. |
| netEcosystemProduction | Net Ecosystem Production | Required. Finite number. |
{
"input": {
"grossProduction": 100,
"autotrophicRespiration": 30,
"heterotrophicRespiration": 40
},
"output": {
"npp": 70,
"netEcosystemProduction": 30
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- All fluxes must use matching carbon or energy units, area and time boundaries. Negative balances are preserved; other ecosystem imports and exports are omitted.
- Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use compatible system boundaries and appropriate ecological measurements before inferring efficiency, nutrient limitation or ecosystem condition.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Ecological Efficiency Trophic Transfer Term
Return trophicEfficiency = consumerProduction/resourceProduction, assimilationEfficiency = assimilated/ingested and productionEfficiency = consumerProduction/assimilated.
- Trophic Transfer Reference Base
denominator is assimilatedEnergy when useAssimilated, otherwise grossEnergy; fraction = transferredEnergy/denominator.