Nasoata Mangrove Island, the PABITRA Coastal Study Site for Viti Levu, Fiji Islands

Abstract

Nasoata Island is a predominantly mangrove island located near the outflow and delta of the Rewa River, Fiji's largest and longest river. The river originates on the eastern slopes of Mt. Tomaniivi in the Central Highlands of Viti Levu. The island has been selected as an integral coastal site for Fiji's PABITRA Gateway Transect. Information is provided on: (1) the reasons it was selected as a PABITRA site; (2) geographical, geological, climatic, and edaphic setting; (3) the vegetation; and (4) brief notes on the fauna, with particular focus on the avifauna. Because of its rich flora and fauna, Nasoata Island is an excellent ''prototype'' coastal and mangrove site for enhancing our understanding of the complexities of island biodiversity, both within Fiji and in relation to other small offshore islands within the broader PABITRA network.

The flora, vegetation, and conservation value of mesic forest at Dogotuki, Vanua Levu, Fiji Islands

“…Mangrove forests have disappeared rapidly in Fiji over recent years and are now considered to require management (Lal 1990). We found extensive and relatively intact mangrove forests (similar in structure and composition to those described by Ghazanfar et al (2001) and Thaman et al (2005)) that, like the other wetlands, had few invasive species. In some places, trees usually associated with terra firma forest grew on the inner margins of mangrove forests, a phenomenon previously observed by IAR in some places along the SE coast of Viti Levu.…”

“…In the Pacific, monodominant forests have been found in mangroves (Thaman et al 2005), swamps (Whitmore 1969;Ash & Ash 1984), and some terra firma sites, some of which, but not all, have a history of previous anthropogenic disturbance (Whitmore 1969;Bayliss-Smith et al 2003). Further studies are required to determine the causative factors of this stunted, monodominant growth.…”

The Effect of the Small Indian Mongoose (Urva auropunctatus), Island Quality and Habitat on the Distribution of Native and Endemic Birds on Small Islands within Fiji

“…The islands are made up of a variety of Eocene to Late Miocene plutonic, volcanic and sedimentary rocks [46]. Fiji has nine principal vegetation types; lowland rainforest, upland rainforest, cloud forest, mangrove forest and scrub, plant communities degraded by fire ( talasiga ), coastal strand vegetation, freshwater wetland vegetation and smaller island vegetation [47]. The latter refers to lowland rain forests where the species richness of the canopy trees has been highly modified by people [43].…”

“…Rarefraction controlled for differing sample sizes, which was expected as detectability inevitably varied between habitats. A qualitative comparison of rarefraction curves was undertaken to compare between-habitat richness; a formal comparison was not done because some samples were small (15 individuals) which would have led to convergence if sample sizes were equalised [47], [52].…”

Social policy, social work and fatongia: Implications of the Tongan concept of obligation

“…Fa is a pandanus plant (Pandanus odoratissimus) belonging to the tropical pandanaceae family and countless types of this plant are found throughout Moanan islands and other tropical places,. Tongia refers to 'the immediately permeating fragrance of a round bunch of ripe pandaus fruit, straightaway after plucking or cutting' (Helu, 1999(Helu, , 2006Thaman, 1974Thaman, , 1981Thaman, , 1987Thaman, , 1993Thaman, , 2000Māhina, 1992Māhina, , 2005Māhina, , 2006. In this context, fatongia implies that an obligation is a gift, similar to receiving a sweet smelling newly plucked or cut fragrant plant.…”