> If "natural" is the key word Peter would it make a difference if a
> "natural" disaster like a flood was the mechanism allowing the new species
> into the waterway rather than deliberate introduction by a (shall we say)
> Fish-stocking organisation.:-)
If the two species that came together were native to their respective
formerly isolated areas then I would consider that to be natural. Mind
you, it depends upon what caused the flooding too. If a major dam burst
then this is not natural IMO. As I say, this can be a very subjective
subject.
> If we take a broader view perhaps we should consider all these mechanisms
> (natural and ?synthetic) to be all part of the evolutionary process as are
> our attempts ( futile as they may ultimately be) to keep the species
> untainted.
Isn't everything subjected to evolutionary processes? I don't think that
was quite the correct term that you meant to use.
Tootles
Peter Unmack