(ecology) The final stage in ecological succession in which a relatively constant environment is reached and species composition no longer changes in a directional fashion, but fluctuates about some mean, or average, community composition.

An ecosystem which experiences a turnover of species, but with an overall steady state. This steady-state ecosystem is characterized by a complex, highly integrated community structure with high species diversity, but relatively low, individual population densities not subject to serious fluctuation, and can be seen as the final stage of a succession. An example is a mature oak woodland.

A climatic climax community may be seen as a climax community which has developed in response to the prevailing climatic conditions; tropical rain forest is an excellent example.