AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The climax pattern theory recognizes a variety of climaxes governed by responses of species populations to biotic and abiotic conditions. According to this theory the total environment of the ecosystem determines the composition, species structure and balance of a climax community.

Detailed explanation-2: -An ecological community in which populations of plants or animals remain stable and exist in balance with each other and their environment. A climax community is the final stage of succession, remaining relatively unchanged until destroyed by an event such as fire or human interference.

Detailed explanation-3: -Instead, climax communities form a continuum that varies across environmental gradients largely characterized by local variations in climatic and edaphic conditions, local disturbance regimes, and biotic factors, particularly herbivores.

Detailed explanation-4: -climax theory A theory that embraces the idea of successional development to an optimum sustainable vegetation community that is in equilibrium with its environment. Two conceptual models of climax vegetation exist: monoclimax ( F. E. Clements, in 1904 and 1916) and polyclimax ( A. G.Tansley, in 1916 and 1920).

Detailed explanation-5: -In addition to trees, each successive community harbors many other life forms, with the greatest diversity populating the climax community. Similar ecological zonings occur among marine flora and fauna, dependent on such environmental factors as bottom composition, availability of light, and degree of salinity.