[BenthosCritter]

I read a differing opinion about non-native species in that they are "accelerated evolution". Species can and do spread over time. They also adapt and evolve to new climates. In the process, they almost always displace other species, such as the Mitten crab or the Asian clam in the SF Bay Area displacing native species by competing for the same food source.

In nature, it is ultimately "survival of the fittest", is it not? So the question is, is mans involvement in accelerating this ecological and evolutionary change necessarily a bad thing? Is "different" necessarily a bad thing?

What if another specie moves a specie to a place where it is not native? Such as a bird carrying a seed. The San Francisco Bay is filled with non-native copepods. Is that a bad thing if humans or other life forms do not notice? Is this really a good or bad thing?...or does it matter so long as a human does not do it? Again, is a difference caused by humankind necessarily a bad thing?

Much of it seems to boil down to what specie you are as to whether or not a new species in town is a good thing, a bad thing or has no effect.

Please don't get me wrong. I am not for non-native specie invasions. I just thought I would throw out an alternative perspective on the issue.