Figure 3. (below left) Net primary productivity for a variety of terrestrial eco

Question

Figure 3. (below left) Net primary productivity for a variety of terrestrial ecosystems as a function of (a) precipitation and (b) mean annual temperature. From: Smith, TM, and RL Smith. 2006. Elements of Ecology. 6" ed. Benjamin Cummings, San Francisco Figure 4. (below right). Relationship between aboveground net primary production and evapotranspiration for a range of terrestrial ecosystems. From: Smith, IM, and KL Smith. 2006. Elements of Ecology, 6" ed. Benjamin Cummings, San Francisco 3000 3.50 Tropical forest 2000 3.25 Hemlock-beech forest Beech-maple Pine forests 3.00 forest . Chestnut-oak heath e Pine heath Tallgrass prairie 2.75 1000 2000 3000 4000 Precipitation (mm) 2.50 3000 Alpine tundra 2.25 Arctic, tundra 2000 2.00 1000 1.75 e Creosote-bush desert -10 10 20 30 1.5 Temperature C) ,00 225 2.50 2.75 3.00 3.25 Estimated actual evapotranspiration (log1o mm/yr)

Explanation / Answer

Ans. The measurement of evapotranspiration is more accurate prediction method than temperature and precipitation because, in the graph we can see the data points are much more scattered in temperature and precipitation as compared to that in the evapotranspiration.

evapotranspiration is a process by of transfer of water from the land to the atmosphere by evaporation and viceversa by transpiration from plants. So this is the situation which provide a correct overview of the mass transfer as well because the primary productivity is dependent on the transfer of water for the production of food and then conducting other metabolism with the primary food. On the other hand the factors like temperature and precipitation gives the imcomplete information regarding the productivity because temperature varies from region to region, while the productivity varies from region to region regardless of temperature and precipitation. This can be seen in graph as well.

form the fig 5 it is very clear that the countries surrounded by ocean have a higher primary productivity as compared to those with extreme dry of cold conditions. Because of a higher evapotransportation retae there is higher net primary productivity. On the contrary the temperature and precipitation does not show significant role in deciding the primary productivity as there are many countries with very optimum temperature, not much cold not hot show lesser productivity, while countries with extrenme hot and extreme cold temperature has a higher productivity depending upon the evapotranspiration process.

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