Regardless of their small size, these organisms have been found to contribute at least 10% of the total global aquatic net primary productivity.

Grazing food webs are more important in grasslands, where over half of net primary productivity may be consumed by herbivores.

Detritus food webs are more important in forests, where less than 5% of net primary productivity may be consumed by herbivores.

In terrestrial biomes, species diversity tends to correlate positively with net primary productivity, moisture availability, and temperature.

Lower primary production also leads to lower net productivity in waters.

These soils are typically phosphorus limited, which inhibits net primary productivity or the uptake of carbon.

Thus, increased solar energy (with an abundance of water) at low latitudes causes increased net primary productivity (or photosynthesis).

Scientists use ocean chlorophyll and vegetation measurements to determine the planet's net primary productivity: how much carbon is being used by the plants to grow.

This begins with the appropriation of about 38% of the Earth's land surface and about 20% of its net primary productivity.

During a cover cycle that ranges from open water to complete vegetation cover, annual net primary productivity may vary 20-fold.