1973 NSRC NAS Workshop Aquatic Weed Management Guyana Report
...possible to speed up the growth rate of manatees by, for example, feeding them dewatered aquatic plauts rich in rutrients.
Other Vertebrates
Turtles. Man has always relished turtles, and it is likely that almost every species has at one time or another satisfied the Certain human appetite. vegetarian turtles may also prove useful supplements to aquatic weed management programmes. One set of experiments in Florida (Yount and Crossman, 1970) showed that two small “sliders” (Pseudemys floridana peninsularis) devoured 50 Ibs. of water hyacinth (some of it crushed) in six days. Healthy hyacinth was not attacked, but after the animals had learned to eat the crushed plants they would then consume healthy ones. Allen (1938) and Carr (1952) also report turtles consuming water hyacinth. A number of South American herbivorous turtles are
on the Endangered Species List. Investigation of the economic benefits they might bring in support role to weed control programmes might eventually provide an economic incentive for their husbandry, and remove threat of their extinction.
Terrestrial Herbivores. Many wild animals play an important role in weed control in their native habitats. They have been little considered for release elsewhere, and indeed probably have no place in conventional weed control...