ABSTRACT
Net ecosystem production (NEP) refers to the carbon metabolism of ecosystems and represents the balance between photosynthesis and respiration. Hence, while NEP is related to the net gain or loss of ecosystem carbon, it does not include many processes either adding or removing carbon from ecosystems. Therefore other indices, such as Net Ecosystem Carbon Balance, are used to assess the net change in carbon stores of ecosystems. The temporal pattern of NEP is highly dependent on the amount and nature of carbon left by disturbances and a current topic of theoretical and empirical research.
