SESSION-4: Limnology of Lakes, Reservoirs, Wetlands
PAPER-9: Phumdi in Loktak Lake
Shyamjai Singh S.

Abstract:

Phumdi is a floating heterogeneous landmass of vegetation, soil and organic matter in different stages of decay. Loktak Lake is a different lake due to this floating landmass. This phumdi support a good floral and faunal biodiversity. Phumdi is a natural habitat of the endangered deer species, Cervus eldi eldi (Sangai) . Around 120 plant species are available in the phumdi of Loktak Lake. Some of the plants are very important from the economical point of view. And some plants are the food and sheltered plants for Sangai. This phumdi is having a range of thickness from few centimeters to 3.3 meters. It is studied by dividing into 4 (four) zones. There are a lot of merits and demerits of phumdi in the lake ecosystem. In the lake, phumdi is proliferating to an alarming situation by different ways. For the management of the lake, management of phumdi is also an important aspect.