Zoocenosis

(from zoo- and Greek koinōsis, sharing), the totality of animals in a biocenosis. Since the zoocenosis always reflects the specific character of the biocenosis, it is often the data on the zoocenosis that are used in studying the biocenosis. The principles according to which zoocenoses are formed are based on the interrelationships of animals not only with each other but also with other organisms, such as higher plants and microorganisms, and with the inorganic environment. Hence the term “zoocenosis” is not precise enough and rarely is used by ecologists today.