Good, but depressing, point, Jon. We are witnessing wholesale changes in
communities & ecosystems as a result of deliberate & accidental
introductions. In addition, extensive habitat modification is allowing the
range extension of competing species once separated by land barriers;
Barred Owls made over the Rockies and are now working their way southward,
competing with Spotted Owls. Starting with the introduction of exotic
marine species via ballast in sailing ships we continue to transport
organisms including microbes, insects & plants via airplanes. Now we've
thrown global warming into the equation. The world is going to look
*nothing* like it did in the 18th Century. This is a genie that cannot be
put back in the bottle, so get used to it. Unfortunately, we are
"managing" biomes and ecosystems as if it was still the early part of the
20th Century, when ecology was invented, instead of trying to anticipate
and cope with the changed Earth of the 21st Century. End of sermon.

Herb Curl

h.curl at hazmat.noaa.gov "You may be only young once but you can be
Hazmat/NOAA, 7600 Sand Pt. Wy., NE immature the rest of your life."
Seattle, WA 98115-0070
(206) 526-6272