How do you explain the difference between disturbance-adapted ecosystems and ecosystems that never mature?

Question

A variety of environments are adapted to disturbance, including fire-adapted grasslands, fire-dependent forest types, and floodplaines. How do you explain the difference between disturbacne-adapted ecosystems and ecosystems that simply never mature and never reach climax conditions?

Answer 1

If an ecosystem can be said to have a characteristic of maturation, a mature ecosystem can only be one which has adapted to disturbance.

According to the Ameerican Heritage dictionary, a climax is "a stage in ecological development in which a community of organisms, especially plants, is stable and capable of perpetuating itself. Also called climax community ." Paradoxically, any undisturbed ecosystem may be considered to have reached climax conditions.