Irrigation and Drainage Systems

, Volume 5, Issue 4, pp 339–349 | Cite as

The use of manatees for the control of aquatic weeds in Guyana

  • M. D. Haigh
Articles

Abstract

The West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) has been widely suggested as a means of biological control of aquatic weeds. Despite significant research little data is available from existing manatee installations.

Manatees have been used in Guyana for weed control for over a century and are still being used today. Data was collected from a number of sites, both past and present, to establish the reliability of the manatee as a weed control agent and to formulate a series of guidelines on which to base future manatee developments.

Key words

aquatic herbivores aquatic weeds biological control Guyana manatee sea cow 

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References

  1. Allsop W.H.L. 1969. Aquatic weeds control by manatees: its prospects and problems in Manmade Lakes. The Accra Symposium. Accra: Ghana University Press.Google Scholar
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  4. International Center for Manatee Research. Report of a workshop held 7th to 13th February 1974, Georgetown, Guyana. National Science Research Council 1974.Google Scholar
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Copyright information

© Kluwer Academic Publishers 1991

Authors and Affiliations

  • M. D. Haigh
    • 1
  1. 1.c/o Mott Macdonald Group, Demeter HouseCambridgeUK

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