Freshwater ichthyofauna of the Pacific-Asia Biodiversity Transect (PABITRA) Gateway in Viti Levu, Fiji

Copeland, Lekima and Boseto, David and Jenkins, Aaron (2016) Freshwater ichthyofauna of the Pacific-Asia Biodiversity Transect (PABITRA) Gateway in Viti Levu, Fiji. Pacific Conservation Biology, NA . NA. ISSN 1038-2097

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Abstract

The freshwater ichthyofauna of the Fiji islands remained poorly documented before the establishment of the
Pacific-Asia Biodiversity Transect (PABITRA) network. The PABITRA approach assesses biodiversity along ocean-tomountain
transects and promotes sustainable land use on islands across the Pacific. Multiple surveys of freshwater fish
species along the Viti Levu PABITRA transect have contributed six new occurrence records and one new species to the
known freshwater fishes of Fiji since 2002. In total, 21 indigenous species of fish (9% endemic) from 10 families and no
introduced fishes were found in the three PABITRA sites. Diversity was highest (16 species) at Savura forest reserve and
decreased further inland into Sovi and Wabu. The assemblage found is dominated by highly migratory species (95%) that
traverse the different aquatic habitats (marine, estuarine, lowland and upland streams) covered by the PABITRA transect.
This high degree of connectivity highlights several growing issues affecting aquatic fauna on the high island of Viti Levu.
The reduction in forest cover along the gateway transects, especially in the terminal reaches, and infrastructure
development such as dams and weirs have deleterious effects on the migration routes of the Fijian ichthyofauna. Several
species collected are important food sources and have cultural totemic importance to local inhabitants along the vertical
transect. This paper documentsthe ichthyofauna of the Fiji gateway transect, ecological characteristics of this assemblage,
IUCN Redlist conservation assessment status and highlights factors affecting the fragility and resilience of these
communities, particularly focusing on the importance of life-history patterns and watershed conditions

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences Q Science > Q Science (General) S Agriculture > SH Aquaculture. Fisheries. Angling
Divisions:	Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment (FSTE) > Institute of Applied Science
Depositing User:	Fulori Nainoca - Waqairagata
Date Deposited:	04 Jul 2016 03:51
Last Modified:	04 Jul 2016 03:51
URI:	https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/9039

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