Applications of Fractal Theory to Ecology

Forms with fractal geometric properties are found in ecosystems. Fractal geometry seems to be a basic space occupation property of biological systems. The surface area of the contact zones between interacting parts of an ecosystem is considerably increased if it has a fractal geometry, resulting in enhanced fluxes of energy, matter, and information. The interface structure often develops into a particular type of ecosystem, becoming an “interpenetration volume” that manages the fluxes and exchanges. The physical environment of ecosystems may also have a fractal morphology. This is found for instance in the granulometry of soils and sediments, and in the phenomenon of turbulence. On the other hand, organisms often display patchiness in space, which may be a fractal if patches are hierarchically nested.

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