biocenosis

Or bi·o·coe·no·sis

[bahy-oh-si-noh-sis]

noun

Ecology.

plural

biocenoses 

1. a self-sufficient community of naturally occurring organisms occupying and interacting within a specific biotope.

biocenosis

plural

biocenoses 

1. A group of interacting organisms that live in a particular habitat and form a self-regulating ecological community.

Word History and Origins

Origin of biocenosis¹

Translation of German Biocönose (1877), equivalent to bio- bio- + -cönose < Greek koínōsis mingling, sharing ( koinō-, verbid stem of koinoûn to make common, share (verbal derivative of koinós common; ceno- ² ) + -sis -sis )