A climax community is the final, stable community at the end of a succession. It stays in the same state over a long period, unless it is disturbed. The populations within it still rise and fall, but the species composition remains roughly constant.Which climax community develops depends mainly on the climate, especially temperature and rainfall, so it is often called a climatic climax. For example:
• in lowland Britain, with a temperate climate and enough rain, the climax community is usually deciduous woodland, often dominated by oak;
• in colder climates, such as northern Scandinavia, it is coniferous forest;
• in very hot, dry climates, the climax may be desert scrub or grassland, because there is not enough water for trees.A climax community is usually dominated by one or a few large species, such as oak trees, which have the greatest effect on conditions such as light and shelter.Features of a climax community include:
• a large biomass;
• complex food webs;
• stable abiotic conditions;
• a balance between the energy captured by producers and the energy lost in respiration.Biodiversity does not always peak at the climax. It often rises through succession and is highest in the stage just before the climax. At the climax, the dominant species (for example, tall trees shading the ground) can outcompete many smaller species, so biodiversity may fall slightly.If human activity, such as grazing or mowing, stops succession before the climatic climax is reached, the stable community that results is called a plagioclimax.
• in lowland Britain, with a temperate climate and enough rain, the climax community is usually deciduous woodland, often dominated by oak;
• in colder climates, such as northern Scandinavia, it is coniferous forest;
• in very hot, dry climates, the climax may be desert scrub or grassland, because there is not enough water for trees.A climax community is usually dominated by one or a few large species, such as oak trees, which have the greatest effect on conditions such as light and shelter.Features of a climax community include:
• a large biomass;
• complex food webs;
• stable abiotic conditions;
• a balance between the energy captured by producers and the energy lost in respiration.Biodiversity does not always peak at the climax. It often rises through succession and is highest in the stage just before the climax. At the climax, the dominant species (for example, tall trees shading the ground) can outcompete many smaller species, so biodiversity may fall slightly.If human activity, such as grazing or mowing, stops succession before the climatic climax is reached, the stable community that results is called a plagioclimax.