communities (consortia, syntrophic or synergistic associations)

https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.C01192
Naturally occuring groups of different (@M03894@)organisms inhabiting a common environment, interacting with each other, especially through food relationships and relatively independent of other groups. Communities may be of varying sizes, and larger communities may contain smaller ones.
Source:
PAC, 1992, 64, 143. (Glossary for chemists of terms used in biotechnology (IUPAC Recommendations 1992)) on page 150 [Terms] [Paper]