Non-Indigenous Species
	The introduction of non-indigenous species can often cause problems within the cycle of a pond or lake and the effects can be even much further spreading than would at first be considered. Species that are native to a particular country or area, have developed naturally alongside the other local inhabitants and so fill a vacant niche within the water cycle. Although they still compete they do so on a balanced scale and often almost create a symbiotic relationships in there life cycle. A fine example of the way that a simple unintentional introduction can effect both the water it was first introduced in to and then nationally occurred in the UK The plant in question is Elodea canadensis, the first discovered specimens were found in a pond in CO Down Ireland in 1836, and also in a lake at Dunns Castle Berkshire England in 1842 and unsubstantiated sightings in the canal systems around 1841. The first definite records were made in 1847 from a reservoir connected to the Grand Union Canal at Foxton Leicstershire and Leigh Park in Hampshire. From Foxton it spread rapidly it reached several midland county's including Derbyshire, Northamptonshire, Staffordshire and Wariwickshire. At this time specimens of the plant were obtained by the Curator of Cambridge Botanic Gardens Professor Babbington,who seeded several pieces into the River Cam. From there on growth became explosive and it grew in every stretch of water capable of maintaining aquatic life. By 1852 the position had become serious, waters had become choked and all the normal pastimes which occurred upon water were nearly impossible. From after this time the plant became known as Babbingtons curse after his untimely introduction. Luckily during the 1880's observers noted that it had declined in dominance where it had once been abundant and by 1909 it had certainly declined dramatically but it was still expanding into new waters. Thankfully the situation has stabilized and the plant although still invasive is unlikely to take on the same role as it did initially. One interesting point to be added to the story is that male plants are almost unheard of in the UK so the whole process occurred by growth from vegetative means with dispersal occurring by plant fragments. This story could be applied equally well to introductions that have occured the world over be it plant, invertebrate or fish. Non-Indigenous Species can be a real problem both to the natural inhabitants or a pond or lake and man himself.
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