The composition of our study object shows in the topological dimension a relatively low variation in horizontal space. The minimum area of study may vary from a few square meters up to a maximum of several kilometers. If mapping is involved, the map scale will be usually much more detailed than 25.000. The relationship study between the components concentrates especially on the so-called vertical ones, that is, between the various strata such as soil, water, vegetation, climate, animal and human action. These are called, together with the very short-range energy and information flow in the horizontal plane, the topological relationships. Classical detailed ecosystem study was usually restricted to the topological dimension.

Zonneveld, I. (1995): Land Ecology. An introduction to Landscape Ecology as a base for Land Evaluation, Land Management and Conservation. SPB Academic Publishing, Amsterdam, 199 p.