Scale

Determining natural Scales of Ecological Systems
RL Habeeb; J Treilco; S Wotherspoon and CR Johnson
(UTAS)
Ecological Monographs 75(4) 2005 pp 267-287

The paper does not seem to include much introductory material. The problem, as explained in the abstract, is very exciting. The rest of the paper, more or less, gives a feeling as being a part of a continuing discussion. Might revisit later - not thrilled. note also - the paper is sent from utas.

Characteristic length scale (CLS): The characteristic length is a natural scale of a system at which the underlying deterministic dynamics are most clearly observed.
A key issue in ecology is to identify the appropriate scale(s) at which to observe trends in ecosystem behaviour.