Years after the lava from an erupting volcano destroyed an area, lichens started to grow in that area. These were gradually replaced by grasses, shrubs, conifers, and finally, by a deciduous forest. If the deciduous forest remains unchanged, it will be referred to as
1) a pioneer community
2)a stable climax community
3)a food chain
4)the biosphere

2)a stable climax community

Explanation:

It is a stable climax community because the community went through various degrees of succession starting from the pioneer species which comprised of lichens. Successive species such as grass, Shrubs and conifers were also present till it reached a climax with zero degree of succession.

The deciduous forest remaining unchanged is referred to as a stable climax community.

2) a stable climax community

Explanation:

This question portrays ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION, which is a series of gradual changes that occurs to the community of an ecosystem. According to the question, a natural occurrence (lava from an erupting volcano) destroyed an area, which was later recolonized by LICHENS, regarded as the PIONEER species.

The lichens were later replaced by grasses, shrubs and conifers until the area later became a deciduous forest. If the deciduous forest remains unchanged for a long period of time, it will be the final stage of the succession and hence will be regarded as a STABLE CLIMAX COMMUNITY.

It is called a stable climax community because the organisms in the deciduous forest have adapted to the environment and succession has stopped occurring.