What is the difference between Pioneer species and the Climax Community?

Question

What is the difference between Pioneer species and the Climax Community?

Answer 1

Pioneer species are the first plants to colonize an area after some sort of catastrophe, such as a fire or clear-cutting.  They are generalists, they grow fast and usually have short life spans.  The climax community is the mix of species that are present a long time after the disaster, sometimes hundreds of years.  It's generally characterized by big, old trees like oaks.  Climax communities are generally stable; once a forest reaches this level, it's not going to change until there's another big disaster.