The amount of net secondary productivity cannot exceed the amount of net primary productivity.

a. True

b. False

True

Explanation:

The net secondary productivity refers to the net amount of energy available to produce biomass at the consumer level. The energy available in the plant tissues after cellular respiration represents the net primary productivity. The net primary productivity represents the rate of incorporation of organic matter into the plant tissues. Hence, net primary productivity is the source of energy and organic matter for the net secondary productivity.

A part of the net primary productivity consumed by a herbivore is used in cellular respiration and other processes and the rest becomes available for biomass accumulation.

Due to the consumption of the part of the net primary productivity for vital processes at the consumer level, the amount of energy available for biomass accumulation, the net secondary productivity, is always less than the NPP.