page_title: Biotic homogenization
section_title: Amphibians and reptiles
hierarchical_section_title: Biotic homogenization / Examples / Animals / Amphibians and reptiles
caption_attribution_description: English: Scanning electron micrograph of a frozen intact zoospore and sporangia of the chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis). The fungus is one of the worst killers of Australian frogs. The fungus was first discovered in dead and dying frogs in Queensland in 1993. Research has now shown the fungus is widespread across Australia and that it has been present in the country since at least 1978. Photo credit: Dr Alex Hyatt, CSIRO Livestock Industries' Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL).
context_page_description: Biotic homogenization is the process by which two or more spatially distributed ecological communities become increasingly similar over time. This process may be genetic, taxonomic, or functional, and it leads to a loss of beta diversity. While the term is sometimes used interchangeably with "taxonomic homogenization", "functional homogenization", and "genetic homogenization", biotic homogenization is actually an overarching concept that encompasses the other three. This phenomenon stems primarily from two sources: extinctions of native and invasions of nonnative species. While this process pre-dates human civilization, as evidenced by the fossil record, and still occurs due to natural impacts, it has recently been accelerated due anthropogenic pressures. Biotic homogenization has become recognized as a significant component of the biodiversity crisis, and as such has become of increasing importance to conservation ecologists.
context_section_description: There has been relatively little research on homogenization in the herpetofauna, and according to a 2006 study, introduction of nonnative reptiles has not led to homogenization of reptilian communities in Florida. However, in Central America, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, which is pathogenic to amphibians, has led to selective extinction of certain taxa, which in turn has resulted in homogenization of certain amphibian assemblages. In addition to this more natural example of homogenization, there is evidence that there is amphibian homogenization of human-impacted environments around the world.
caption: The chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) is parasitic to amphibians, and has led to homogenization of amphibians in Central America.
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