What term refers to an ecosystem that is unable to progress to a climax community due to human activity?

The term that describes an ecosystem unable to progress to a climax community due to human activity is arrested succession. This situation occurs when external factors, such as agricultural practices, urban development, or pollution, disrupt the natural process of ecological succession. Rather than allowing the ecosystem to reach its natural endpoint, these human interventions halt the progression, often resulting in a less diverse and less stable environment.

In ecological terms, succession involves a series of stages where species gradually replace one another over time, leading to a stable climax community that supports a specific set of organisms. However, if the succession is interrupted or redirected by human influence, it may lead to a situation where the ecosystem remains in an early stage of development and does not achieve its full potential biodiversity or stability. This concept is critical for understanding how human activities can impact ecological processes and biodiversity conservation.