Uses and abuses of fractal methodology in ecology

doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2004.00568.x

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Wiley InterScience

Ecology Letters

Volume 7 Issue 3, Pages 254 - 271

Published Online: 24 Feb 2004

Published on behalf of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

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REVIEW

Uses and abuses of fractal methodology in ecology

J. M. Halley ¹*, S. Hartley ² , A. S. Kallimanis ¹ , W. E. Kunin ³ , J. J. Lennon ⁴ and S. P. Sgardelis ¹

¹ Department of Ecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, U.P.B. 119, 54124, Greece
² School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O.B. 600, Wellington, New Zealand
³ School of Biology, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT, Leeds, UK
⁴ The Macaulay Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK

Correspondence to * E-mail: jmax@bio.auth.gr

KEYWORDS

Scale • scaling • spatial pattern • multifractals • species distribution

Abstract

Uses of Fractals in Ecology and Other Sciences

$Difficulties in applying fractal methods$

Fractals have found widespread application in a range of scientific fields, including ecology. This rapid growth has produced substantial new insights, but has also spawned confusion and a host of methodological problems. In this paper, we review the value of fractal methods, in particular for applications to spatial ecology, and outline potential pitfalls. Methods for measuring fractals in nature and generating fractal patterns for use in modelling are surveyed. We stress the limitations and the strengths of fractal models. Strictly speaking, no ecological pattern can be truly fractal, but fractal methods may nonetheless provide the most efficient tool available for describing and predicting ecological patterns at multiple scales.

Editor, M. Pascual Manuscript received 30 June 2003 First decision made 12 August 2003 Second decision made 8 December 2003 Manuscript accepted 5 January 2004

DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)

10.1111/j.1461-0248.2004.00568.x About DOI