---
title: "Respiration — AP Environmental Science Definition & Guide"
description: "Respiration is how organisms release stored energy from organic compounds. In AP Enviro it's the term you subtract from GPP to get net primary productivity."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/ap-enviro/key-terms/respiration"
type: "key-term"
subject: "AP Environmental Science"
---

# Respiration — AP Environmental Science Definition & Guide

## Definition

Respiration refers to the process by which living organisms, including plants, release stored energy from organic compounds to carry out life functions.

## Related Study Guides

- [1.8 Primary Productivity](/ap-enviro/unit-1/primary-productivity/study-guide/qZAeWALqqSWPTQRTlPLB)

## Review

### Related Terms

- [Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)](/ap-enviro/key-terms/gross-primary-productivity-gpp): GPP is the total amount of energy captured by plants through photosynthesis before any deductions.
- [Net Primary Productivity (NPP)](/ap-enviro/key-terms/net-primary-productivity-npp): NPP is the amount of energy that remains after plants have used some of their captured energy for their own respiration.
- [Aerobic Respiration](/ap-enviro/key-terms/aerobic-respiration): Aerobic respiration is a type of respiration that requires oxygen and produces carbon dioxide, water, and ATP as byproducts.