  We study a set of six-species ecological models where each species has two
predators and two preys. On a square lattice the time evolution is governed by
iterated invasions between the neighboring predator-prey pairs chosen at random
and by a site exchange with a probability Xs between the neutral pairs. These
models involve the possibility of spontaneous formation of different defensive
alliances whose members protect each other from the external invaders. The
Monte Carlo simulations show a surprisingly rich variety of the stable spatial
distributions of species and subsequent phase transitions when tuning the
control parameter Xs. These very simple models are able to demonstrate that the
competition between these associations influences their composition. Sometimes
the dominant association is developed via a domain growth. In other cases
larger and larger invasion processes preceed the prevalence of one of the
stable asociations. Under some conditions the survival of all the species can
be maintained by the cyclic dominance occuring between these associations.
