Biotic homogenization

Biotic homogenization is the process by which two or more spatially distributed ecological communities become increasingly similar to one another over time. The process may be genetic, taxonomic, or functional, and it leads to a loss of beta diversity between communities; the term is sometimes used interchangeably with taxonomic homogenization, functional homogenization, and genetic homogenization, though biotic homogenization is the overarching concept that encompasses the other three. It stems primarily from two sources, the extinction of native species and the invasion of nonnative species. Although the process predates human civilization and still occurs through natural causes, it has recently been accelerated by human pressures, and it is now recognized as a significant component of the broader biodiversity crisis. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/