This paper deals with variations in biomass and in the production of Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) in a eutrophic tropical reservoir. Net production was assessed by both a traditional method and a demographic approach. The initial biomass ranges from 96 g DW.m-2 to a maximum of 2027 g DW.m-2. Net production estimates varied greatly according to which method was used to calculate them (traditional: 20.6 ton DW.hectare-1.year-1, demographic: 226.9 ton DW.year-1).
Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth); biomass production; modular demography; macrophytes
