Q55.2-3ITD - Campbell Biology

Question

If all of the detritus leaving the marsh is plant material, what percentage of all net primary production leaves the marsh as detritus each year?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The percentage of net primary production that will be lost every year in the form of detritus (if all detritus is plant material) will be approximately equal to 56%.

Step 1: Detritus

Detritus can be defined as the ecosystem’s dead remains of life forms that have fallen on the soil layer. It comprises the dead remains of all forms of life present in that ecosystem along with their waste products. 

Step 2: Marsh

The terrestrial ecosystem is further grouped into several types based on their abiotic differences; these ecosystems also differ in terms of their species diversity. A marsh is an example of a wetland-type ecosystem that comprises water-logged soil and is dominated by grassy plant species.

Step 3: Loss of net primary production

The scenario mentioned in the above statement assumes all the detritus to be plant material, and the energy that is lost from the ecosystem because of loss of detritus is 3,671 kcal/(m2yr).

Thus, the percentage of net primary production that is lost each year due to all plant detritus leaving the marshes will be $\frac{3671}{6585}\times 100=56\%$