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NAL Agricultural Thesaurus
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Concept Breadcrumbs

Fields of Study > ecology > ecological processes and phenomena > net ecosystem production
Natural Resources, Conservation, Environment > ecology > ecological processes and phenomena > net ecosystem production
Preferred Term:

net ecosystem production

Definition:
The difference between the amount of organic carbon fixed in an ecosystem by photosynthesis (gross primary productivity) and total ecosystem respiration. NEP represents the total amount of organic carbon available for storage or loss in the ecosystem. Whether NEP is greater or less than zero determines if an ecosystem is autrophic or heterotrophic.
Concept Schemes:
NALT Full
Broader Concept:
ecological processes and phenomena
Related Concepts:
Entry Terms:
  • net ecosystem productivity
  • NEP (net ecosystem production)
URI:
https://lod.nal.usda.gov/nalt/191243
Download this Concept:
RDF/XMLCreated 2012-09-12, last modified 2013-02-05