Widespread homogenization of plant communities in the Anthropocene

Barnabas H. Daru (), T. Jonathan Davies (), Charles G. Willis, Emily K. Meineke, Argo Ronk, Martin Zobel, Meelis Pärtel, Alexandre Antonelli and Charles C. Davis ()
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Barnabas H. Daru: Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
T. Jonathan Davies: University of British Columbia
Charles G. Willis: University of Minnesota
Emily K. Meineke: University of California
Argo Ronk: University of Pennsylvania
Martin Zobel: University of Tartu
Meelis Pärtel: University of Tartu
Alexandre Antonelli: Harvard University Herbaria
Charles C. Davis: Harvard University Herbaria

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Native biodiversity decline and non-native species spread are major features of the Anthropocene. Both processes can drive biotic homogenization by reducing trait and phylogenetic differences in species assemblages between regions, thus diminishing the regional distinctiveness of biotas and likely have negative impacts on key ecosystem functions. However, a global assessment of this phenomenon is lacking. Here, using a dataset of >200,000 plant species, we demonstrate widespread and temporal decreases in species and phylogenetic turnover across grain sizes and spatial extents. The extent of homogenization within major biomes is pronounced and is overwhelmingly explained by non-native species naturalizations. Asia and North America are major sources of non-native species; however, the species they export tend to be phylogenetically close to recipient floras. Australia, the Pacific and Europe, in contrast, contribute fewer species to the global pool of non-natives, but represent a disproportionate amount of phylogenetic diversity. The timeline of most naturalisations coincides with widespread human migration within the last ~500 years, and demonstrates the profound influence humans exert on regional biotas beyond changes in species richness.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27186-8

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