Guild
- Pronunciation
- /gild/
- Category
- Ecology
- Plural
- Guilds
Definition
A group of species that exploits the same resource in a similar manner. Examples of a guild are the various insects that are responsible for decomposition of cow dung, or the various insects that attack the flower head of sunflower.
Etymology
Middle English: from Old Norse gildi, meaning 'guild' or 'payment', often used for societies sharing a particular interest or resource.
Example
The beetle guild consists of species that feed on decaying wood.