Calculate how much energy is lost from this ecosystem through plant respiration.?

Question

This question relates to the flow of energy through a fairly young (about 50 years old), temperate, deciduous forest. The amount of solar energy incident on this forest in a year is 2 × 106 kJ m−2. Gross primary production (GPP) is 43 470 kJ m−2 y−1 and net primary production (NPP) is 19 560 kJ m−2 y−1 . 14 330 kJ m−2 y−1 passes from the autotrophs to the detritivores and decomposers in the form of leaves, twigs, dead roots, etc. Herbivores (mainly caterpillars) consume 170 kJ m−2 y−1 and 120 kJ m−2 y−1 passes from the herbivores to the detritivores and decomposers in the form of faeces. A variety of different carnivores consume the available herbivores.

Calculate how much energy is lost from this ecosystem through plant respiration.

Answer 1

plant respiration is GPP - NPP.  Gross is what the plant makes from photosynthesis and net is what goes into new growth and reproduction.  The difference between the two is lost through cell respiration.  23,910 kJ m-2 y-1 should be the answer.  All the other info you provide is not needed for this particular question.