Question

In ecological succession, the climax community is best recognized by the following state.

• A. $P = R$
• B. $P > R$
• C. $P < R$
• D. $P\ne R$

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

$P = R$

Answer 2

During ecosystem development from a young to mature stages, the community respiration increases but the $P / R$ (ie, Production/Respiration) ratio remains more than $1$ in the sera stages. The huge living biomass respires a lot in the climax stage and the $P / R$ ratio equals $1$ (ie, $P / R=1$ ). Thus, in the early stages, $P>R$ and in the climax stage $P = R$.