Which term best describes the mature stage of ecological development with little species turnover?

• A. Climax Community
• B. Old-Growth Forest
• C. Invasive Species
• D. Secondary Succession

Answer: (A)

In ecological succession, communities evolve toward a stable end-state where the species composition remains relatively constant over time, as long as the environment doesn’t change. The term that describes this mature, low-turnover stage is the climax community. It represents the final assemblage of species that can persist under the prevailing climate and soils, showing little turnover unless a disturbance resets the process.

Old-growth forest is a forest example of a late successional stage and often aligns with the concept of a climax community, but it’s a more specific label tied to forests. Invasive species describe organisms that disrupt ecosystems and often increase turnover or alter the community structure. Secondary succession refers to the process of regrowth after a disturbance, not the stable end-state itself.