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

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Irrigation and Drainage Systems

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.

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References

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Haigh, M.D. The use of manatees for the control of aquatic weeds in Guyana. Irrig Drainage Syst 5, 339–349 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01102831

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01102831

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