Read the following statements carefully: A. The unit of productivity can be expressed as g m ⁻² yr ⁻¹ . B. Gross primary productivity is the available biomass for the consumption to heterotrophs. C. Secondary productivity is defined as the rate of formation of new organic matter by consumers. D. Net primary productivity minus respiration losses equals Gross primary productivity. How many of the above statements are c

Step-by-step solution

Statement A is correct. Productivity is the rate of biomass production, and it is expressed in terms of g m ⁻² yr ⁻¹ or ( kcal m ⁻²) yr ⁻¹ . Statement B is incorrect. Net primary productivity (NPP), not gross primary productivity (GPP), is the available biomass for consumption by heterotrophs (herbivores and decomposers). Statement C is correct. Secondary productivity is defined exactly as the rate of formation of new organic matter by consumers. Statement D is incorrect. The correct relationship is GPP minus respi