key term - Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)

Definition

GPP refers to the total amount of energy that is captured by plants through photosynthesis in a given area or ecosystem.

Related terms

Net Primary Productivity (NPP):

NPP is the amount of energy that remains after plants use some of the captured energy for their own respiration.

Respiration:

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

Photosynthesis:

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants and some other organisms convert sunlight into chemical energy in the form of glucose.