Climax Community
A stable, self-perpetuating ecological community that represents the endpoint of succession for a given environment. The final stage where species composition remains relatively constant.
Used in the Books
This term appears in 3 chapters:
"...ascades (wolves → elk → rivers) propagate through business networks? How do pioneer species colonize new markets, and how do ecosystems mature toward climax communities? Selection pressure doesn't just determine which organisms survive. It determines which ecosystems form, how energy flows through them, and which st..."
"Seral species outcompete pioneers as conditions improve. Year 10+: Larger trees establish. The ecosystem approaches a climax community: a stable, self-sustaining assemblage of species where composition changes slowly. Climax communities aren't "better" than pioneer or seral communi..."
"...gnize that succession is not one-time transition but continuous process: No permanent climax: Unlike ecosystems that can reach relatively stable climax communities persisting for centuries, organizations face perpetual environmental change requiring continuous adaptation. Repeated cycles: Organizations may ..."
Biological Context
Classical ecology viewed climax as a single endpoint—mature oak forest in eastern North America, for example. Modern understanding recognizes multiple possible stable states and that 'climax' communities still change slowly. Disturbance can reset succession to earlier stages.
Business Application
Mature markets reach 'climax' states with stable competitive structures—a few dominant players in established positions. Disruption resets succession, creating opportunities for new entrants.