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In ecology a climax community is the community of plants and animals which is the result of succession, where a biological system, a community, or a soil has reached a steady state. In temperate climates these are typically deciduous or coniferous woodland, and in tropical climates they are rainforests. Often ecosystems are kept at an artificial climax community, called a plagioclimax or disclimax, such as grassland, because of grazing or human interference.In reality it is rare that a community reaches a true climax community with an unchanging equalibrium, but the rate of succession or ecological change can be such that the climax community concept is still useful. Clements 's climax theory has been largely replaced by disturbance and gap-phase theories.
See also ecosystem.
Ecology
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