Primary production is the process by which living organisms, known as producers or autotrophs, such as plants, algae, and certain bacteria, produce organic compounds from inorganic materials (like water and carbon dioxide) through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. This process forms the base of the food chain and is crucial for sustaining life on Earth. There are two primary types of primary productivity: gross primary productivity (GPP) and net primary productivity (NPP). GPP represents the total amount of organic material produced by all producers in an ecosystem, while NPP is the amount of this organic material that is available as food for other organisms after accounting for the energy used by the producers for their own growth and metabolism.

In essence, primary production is the creation of new organic matter by autotrophic organisms through the assimilation and fixation of inorganic nutrients, ultimately fueling the energy flow in ecosystems. The process of primary production is influenced by various factors like light availability, nutrient levels, and temperature. This helps regulate the overall balance of energy and nutrients in ecosystems, making it a vital component of the Earth's biosphere.

Sources

Primary productivity | Definition, Example, & Process - Britannica7.1 Primary Production – Introduction to OceanographyPrimary productivity Definition and Examples - Biology Online DictionaryThe Flow of Energy: Primary Production - globalchange@umich.eduPrimary production - Coastal WikiPrimary Production - YouTube

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