1. A method for analyzing community structures within a plurality of environmental samples, the method comprising: obtaining taxa data corresponding to taxonomic groups within the plurality of the environmental samples; determining an abundance value for each of the taxonomic groups with respect to each of the plurality of environmental samples, based on the taxa data; computing an interaction factor for each pair of the taxonomic groups in the plurality of environmental samples based on corresponding abundance values, wherein the interaction factor is indicative of a degree of interaction between a pair of taxonomic groups from among the taxonomic groups; and clustering the plurality of the environmental samples based in part on interaction factors and abundance values.