<P> In ecology, climax community, or climatic climax community, is a historic term for a biological community of plants, animals, and fungi which, through the process of ecological succession in the development of vegetation in an area over time, have reached a steady state . This equilibrium was thought to occur because the climax community is composed of species best adapted to average conditions in that area . The term is sometimes also applied in soil development . Nevertheless, it has been found that a "steady state" is more apparent than real, particularly if long - enough periods of time are taken into consideration . Notwithstanding, it remains a useful concept . </P> <P> The idea of a single climatic climax, which is defined in relation to regional climate, originated with Frederic Clements in the early 1900s . The first analysis of succession as leading to something like a climax was written by Henry Cowles in 1899, but it was Clements who used the term "climax" to describe the idealized endpoint of succession . </P>

When does a climax community form in relation to succession