Which process includes the replacement of a biotic community by another until a climax community develops?

The correct process described is secondary succession. This process occurs after a disturbance has altered or destroyed an existing community but has not completely removed the soil and seeds. Secondary succession allows for the recovery and replacement of a biotic community over time, eventually leading to the establishment of a climax community that is stable and can sustain itself.

During secondary succession, the existing soil and organic matter remain intact, allowing for faster recovery compared to primary succession, which starts from bare rock or lifeless soil. This type of succession often follows events like forest fires, hurricanes, or human activities that disrupt an ecosystem but leave some ecological legacies in place, such as seeds, roots, or microorganisms.

In contrast, primary succession begins from a completely barren environment where no soil exists, such as after a volcanic eruption or glacial retreat. Climatic succession is not a widely recognized concept in ecological literature, and anthropogenic succession refers specifically to changes in biotic communities caused by human activity. Thus, the process of a biotic community being replaced by another through stages until a climax community forms aligns specifically with the definition of secondary succession.