Dep. Hydrobiology, Biological Faculty, M.V.Lomonosov Moscow University, Vorob'evy Gory, Moscow 119899, Moscow, Russia

Abstract

Basic types of spatial structure of communities are briefly reviewed, and some problems of the real structures examination are discussed. We propose a new - fractal - type of a spatial structure as a hierarchical system of several levels of enclosed patches with similar contrast on each level. New statistical criterion is offered for distinction of known types of a structure, including fractal one. The criterion is based on relation of heterogeneity of community structure with spatial scale of consideration. This criterion occurs to be rather effective on simple models simulating various types of distribution, though it has some limitation. Some notion of spatial scaling are specified. Perspectives of the scale-oriented approach to the analysis of spatial structures and some difficulties of it's practical use are discussed.