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Primary Production

Primary Production

The total amount of energy acquired by primary producers in an ecosystem is called gross primary production (GPP). However, of this energy, producers use some for metabolic processes, and some is lost as heat, decreasing the amount of energy available to the next trophic level. The remaining usable amount of energy is called the net primary productivity (NPP). In terrestrial ecosystems, NPP is driven by climate, while light penetration and nutrient availability drive NPP in aquatic ecosystems.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 3, 2025

The Benthic Exchange of O2, N2 and Dissolved Nutrients Using Small Core Incubations

The Benthic Exchange of O2, N2 and Dissolved Nutrients Using Small Core Incubations

Published on: August 3, 2016

Tidal driven nutrient exchange between mangroves and estuary reveals a dynamic source-sink pattern.

Fenfang Wang¹, Peng Cheng², Nengwang Chen³

¹Key Laboratory of the Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, China.

|October 30, 2020

Summary

Mangroves act as a nutrient source and sink, influencing coastal ecosystems. However, upstream pollution can negate their role in mitigating coastal eutrophication.

Keywords:

Eutrophication Nutrient fluxes Wetlands Zhangjiang estuary

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Last Updated: Dec 3, 2025

The Benthic Exchange of O2, N2 and Dissolved Nutrients Using Small Core Incubations

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Published on: August 3, 2016

Chemotactic Response of Marine Micro-Organisms to Micro-Scale Nutrient Layers

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Visualizing Methane-Cycling Microbial Dynamics in Coastal Wetlands

Visualizing Methane-Cycling Microbial Dynamics in Coastal Wetlands

Published on: January 31, 2025

Area of Science:

Coastal Ecology
Nutrient Biogeochemistry
Estuarine Science

Background:

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are critical for mangrove productivity and coastal health.
Limited understanding exists regarding nutrient cycling and mangrove-estuary interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate tidal-driven nutrient exchange across the mangrove-estuary interface.
To determine the source-sink dynamics of nutrients in this critical zone.

Main Methods:

Quantified lateral nutrient fluxes using hourly concentration data (2016-2018).
Estimated water mass dynamics with the FVCOM hydrodynamic model.

Main Results:

Mangroves consistently export ammonium (NH₄-N) and dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) while acting as a nitrate (NO₃-N) sink.
Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and phosphorus (DOP) showed seasonal shifts from source to sink.
Mangroves reduced overall dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), dissolved total nitrogen (DTN), and total phosphorus (TP) loading to the estuary.

Conclusions:

Mangroves play a dual role in nutrient cycling, acting as both a source and sink.
Upstream pollution from aquaculture and sewage can overwhelm the mitigating effects of mangroves, increasing nutrient export.