Question

Energy flows from the sun into primary producers. They are eaten by primary consumers and then secondary consumers come into play eventually you wind up with the apex or top carnivores. This is known as Energy Flow and is part of Ecosystem Dynamics.

So the questions are: How do we measure primary production?

What limits primary production? Physical, Chemical and Organismal

Answer 1

In ecosystem, the primary production can be measured in three possible ways. They are listed below,

1. The rate of production of oxygen
2. The amount of carbon dioxide used and
3. The rate of sugar formation

The primary production in ecosystem is limited by the following factors,

1. Rate of carbon fixation by photosynthesis
2. The presence of sunlight
3. Availability of chemicals such as nitrogen

So, primary production is limited by all: physical (sunlight), chemical (nitrogen) and organisms (plant) factors.