Complete the following practice problems
Primary Productivity
1. Imagine we run an experiment on a simulated grassland ecosystem. We measure the starting weight (using an identical third sample, dried) and place equal amounts of a grass species in light and dark locations. After one week, we end up with the following data. Each sample is in a 10 cm2 container.
What is the NPP, R, and GPP of the "grassland"? Express your answers in grams/cm2/day.
1. Imagine we run an experiment on a simulated grassland ecosystem. We measure the starting weight (using an identical third sample, dried) and place equal amounts of a grass species in light and dark locations. After one week, we end up with the following data. Each sample is in a 10 cm2 container.
What is the NPP, R, and GPP of the "grassland"? Express your answers in grams/cm2/day.
Secondary Productivity
2. The productivity of 10 caterpillars was measured in laboratory conditions. The animals were fed grass for 14 days and the following results were obtained.
2. The productivity of 10 caterpillars was measured in laboratory conditions. The animals were fed grass for 14 days and the following results were obtained.
Calculate the gross and net secondary productivity and the respiration of the caterpillars. Assume that 25% of the fresh body mass of the caterpillars is dry mass, 30 % of the grass is dry mass and 80% of the faeces are dry mass. Your answers should be given in grams per caterpillar per day.
3. Imagine we run an experiment on a marine diatom (a type of algae). We place equal amounts of the diatom species in light and dark settings, and measure their starting weight (using an identical third sample) and dry it out. After one week, we end up with the following data.
What is the percent moisture of the sample, and the NPP, respiration, and GPP of the species of diatom? Express your answer in grams per bottle per day.
What is the percent moisture of the sample, and the NPP, respiration, and GPP of the species of diatom? Express your answer in grams per bottle per day.
4. In a lab, students used Brussels Sprouts as a producer and cabbage butterfly larvae as primary consumers. Brussels Sprouts were placed in an aerated container with air holes along with 10 caterpillar larvae that were 12 days old. Before assembling the container, the wet mass of the Brussels Sprouts and wet mass of the caterpillars was taken. After three days, the container was disassembled and the mass of the components were taken. At this point the larvae were 15 days old. A drying oven was then used to obtain the dry biomass of the 10 caterpillar larvae, the remaining Brussels Sprouts and the dried faeces. Calculate the GSP, NSP and respiration. Express your answers in grams per caterpillar per day.