Plagioclimax
Plagioclimax community
Habitat limited by human activities
A Plagioclimax community is an area or habitat in which the influences of the humans have prevented the ecosystem from developing further. The ecosystem may have been stopped from reaching its full climatic climax or deflected towards a different climax by activities such as:
- Cutting down the existing vegetation
- Burning as a means of forest clearance
- planting trees or crops
- Grazing and trampling by domesticated animals
- Harvesting of planted crops
These are known as disturbances, or arresting factors.
In each case, human activity has led to a community which is not the climax community expected in such an area. If the human activity continues, the community will be held in a stable position and further succession will not occur until the human activity ceases.