Continuing Usage of "climax"
Despite the overall abandonment of climax theory, during the 1990s use of climax concepts again became more popular among some theoretical ecologists. Many authors and nature-enthusiasts continue to use the term "climax" in a diluted form to refer to what might otherwise be called mature or old-growth communities. The term "climax" has also been adopted as description for a late successional stage for marine macroinvertebrate communities.
Additionally, some contemporary ecologists still use the term "disclimax" to refer to an ecosystem that has been dominated by invasive species that, in-turn, competitively prevent the re-introduction of once native species into an affected ecosystem. This concept borrows from Clement's earliest interpretation of climax as referring to an ecosystem that is resistant to colonization by outside species. The term disclimax was used in-context by Clements (1936), and despite being an anthropogenic phenomenon which prevents the facilitation and succession to a true climax community, it is one of the only examples of climax that can be observed in nature.
Read more about this topic: Climax Community
Famous quotes containing the words continuing, usage and/or climax:
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