General usage:
* The colonies of ants worked tirelessly to gather food.
* The European colonies in North America eventually declared independence.
* Scientists are studying the impact of climate change on penguin colonies in Antarctica.
Specific examples:
* The colonies of bacteria in our gut play a crucial role in digestion.
* The colonies of bees were thriving in the orchard.
* The colonies of settlers established new towns and cities across the vast wilderness.
Figurative usage:
* The city was a sprawling colony of concrete and steel.
* The artist's imagination was a colony of vibrant ideas.
* The internet is a colony of interconnected networks.