Even on isolated islands like Australia, the world's flora is growing more uniform.
Scientists have been warning the world of a new geological epoch called the 'Homogecene', when life forms become overshadowed by more adapted species that can live alongside humans.
The new research shows how much of a problem flowering plants are in.
Mark van Kleunen is an ecologist from the University of Konstanz in Germany.
Unless more effective protective measures are taken to counter the ongoing spread and naturalization of alien plants in the future, they will continue to destroy the unique nature of our environment.
We are largely to blame for the destruction of the ecosystems. Some scientists are concerned that the loss of natural barriers could lead to a new Pangaea.
The bridge this time will be us, instead of solid land connecting all the major continents and their flora and fauna. Our backs are already home to many super-invaders who are ready to take over new territory.
They have begun their domination.
At least 47 threatened species have been impacted by the growth of blackberries in Australia. Damage and containment attempts cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
The native vegetation that's left on our planet for countries like Australia and other Pacific islands could be protected with stronger measures for human trade and transport.
These isolated nations are home to many unique endemic species and yet because these life forms have evolved to suit a very specific ecological niche, they are less likely to adapt to a rapidly changing world.
Researchers have compared native flowers and non-native flowers from around the world.
Their findings show that plants in distant areas have become less distinct due to the introduction of new species.
The authors found that alien plants are more likely to be naturalized in a distant environment when the temperature is similar to their last home.
The rain didn't seem to affect plant uniformity as much. This suggests that many plants are weeds.
The more similar the two regions are in terms of climate, the more likely it is that a plant from one region will succeed in establishing itself as a naturalized species in the other region.
Plants from a region with a short distance to their new habitat are pre-adapted.
The regions of the world that share the same administrations have similar flora.
Human trade and transport are more common between states in a nation, a union, or historic colonial networks.
The British global empire had set up 126 botanical gardens around the world, all of which exchanged plant species.
European colonizers brought many alien species to Australia, which is probably why it is a hot spot for homogenization.
Invasive alien plants in Australia number in the thousands, and each year about 20 new species are added to the list, replacing more native plants and altering natural habitats.
The consequences of all this change are not known. The arrival of a 'New Pangaea' could be very damaging to the local environment.
The last time a supercontinent existed on Earth, it led to mass extinctions and increased the cosmopolitanism of global fauna.
There is no reason why it couldn't happen again.
A rough estimate of how much homogeneity has already occurred among flowering plants, but more research is needed to determine how uniform the entire biosphere has become and why.
We don't know what needs to be done to save it.
Nature Communications published the study.
