Fiji’s major reefs include the outside barrier reef, inside barrier reef and fringing reef at Nameena Island, the Great Astrolabe Reed at Kadavu– also a fringing reef– and the Nuku Reef in the Mamanuka Island Group of Fiji.
See more images of corals from around the world at the World Wildlife Foundation: The Fragile Beauty of Coral Reefs
biodiversity of CORAL REEFS
Fiji has one of the largest, best developed coral reef systems in the South Pacific. It estimated that one thousands coral reefs are present in Fiji. There are 50 genera, 144 coral species and 230 forms of stony corals recorded. The coral reefs surround all of the Fijian islands and occur as fringing reefs, barriers reefs, platform reefs (with and without sand clays), ocean ribbon reefs, drowned reef shoals, atolls and near atolls. Fringing reefs encircle most of the high islands, and barrier reefs stretch at the edges of islands shelves. Several atolls and near atolls are located to the east. Even though Fiji possesses one of the longest fringing reefs (the Coral coast of Viti Levu) and one of the longest barriers reefs (the Mamanuca/ Yasawa/ Great Sea Reef complex), little is known about the coral reefs.
Fiji’s marine flora and fauna are fairly well-known thanks to the contributions of the University of the South Pacific and the Fisheries Division. The marine algal flora has 422 taxa of algae. The crustose coralline algae help in the calcification and cementation processes on coral reefs. Other algal species are incorporated in the Fijian diet and the Ulva and Entermorpha are good indicators of pollution in coastal and estuarine areas. Four species of sea grasses are common in the inter-tidal and shallow sub-tidal waters. They efficiently recycle nutrients and provide food for many marine organisms. Fiji has 1198 fish species from 162 families (reef, pelagic and deepwater bottom species). It is expected to increase to 1500 species. The reef fishes consist of 147 species from 39 families of reefal species. There are about 7000 species of mollluscs (snails, bivalves, octopus etc) including 760 species of gastropod bivalves, and many thousands of other invertebrates (sponges, worms, crustaceans, starfish, sea urchins etc). Three species of sea turtles nest in the island: the Loggerhead Caretta caretta, the Green turtle Chelonia mydas and the Hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata. The Flatblacks Chelonia depressa, Olive Ridley Lepidochelys olivacea, and the Leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea rarely or occasionally visit the Fiji waters. There are also three snake species of which two are banded kraits (Laticauda colubrine and L. laticuauda) and breed on land. The other one is the oceanic bellied sea snake (Pelamis platuris) and an occasional visitor. Whales (16 species) and dolphins (7 species) may be seen in Fiji.
Fiji’s marine flora and fauna are fairly well-known thanks to the contributions of the University of the South Pacific and the Fisheries Division. The marine algal flora has 422 taxa of algae. The crustose coralline algae help in the calcification and cementation processes on coral reefs. Other algal species are incorporated in the Fijian diet and the Ulva and Entermorpha are good indicators of pollution in coastal and estuarine areas. Four species of sea grasses are common in the inter-tidal and shallow sub-tidal waters. They efficiently recycle nutrients and provide food for many marine organisms. Fiji has 1198 fish species from 162 families (reef, pelagic and deepwater bottom species). It is expected to increase to 1500 species. The reef fishes consist of 147 species from 39 families of reefal species. There are about 7000 species of mollluscs (snails, bivalves, octopus etc) including 760 species of gastropod bivalves, and many thousands of other invertebrates (sponges, worms, crustaceans, starfish, sea urchins etc). Three species of sea turtles nest in the island: the Loggerhead Caretta caretta, the Green turtle Chelonia mydas and the Hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata. The Flatblacks Chelonia depressa, Olive Ridley Lepidochelys olivacea, and the Leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea rarely or occasionally visit the Fiji waters. There are also three snake species of which two are banded kraits (Laticauda colubrine and L. laticuauda) and breed on land. The other one is the oceanic bellied sea snake (Pelamis platuris) and an occasional visitor. Whales (16 species) and dolphins (7 species) may be seen in Fiji.
Coral gardening in fiji
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Although Fiji is home to the 3rd greatest length of coral reef in the world, measuring 5,360Km, like most corals today the corals of Fiji are threatened by bleaching, sediment run-off and other pollution, fishing (by dynamite and cyanide) and increasingly tourism.
Because of the degradation of corals in Fiji, marine biologists are now attempting to reestablish corals by growing coral nurseries. They hope that by revitalizing the corals, fish will also start to repopulate the area as well, in turn benefiting the local people. |
Sources: http://traveltips.usatoday.com/coral-reefs-fiji-1276.html
- Mueller-Dombois, Dieter, and F.R. Fosberg, Vegetation of the Tropical Pacific Islands. 1997. Reprint, New York: Springer, 1998. 112,122-123.
- SCBD. “Convention On Biological Diversity 1997 National Report To The Conference Of The Parties By The Republic Of Fiji.” Convention on Biological Diversity. <http://www.cbd.int/doc/world/fj/fj-nr-01-en.pdf> (accessed May 25, 2013).
- SCBD. "Fiji’s Fourth National Report to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.” Convention on Biological Diversity. <http://www.cbd.int/doc/world/fj/fj-nr-04-en.pdf> (accessed May 25, 2013).
- World Wildlife Fund. “Fiji tropical dry forests.” The Encyclopedia of Earth. December 6, 2006. <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Fiji_tropical_dry_forests> (accessed May 25, 2013).
- Department of Environment Fiji. “National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan: Definition of Biodiversity.” Department of Environment Fiji. <http://www.environment.gov.fj/national-biodiversity-strategy-action-plan/> (accessed May 27, 2013).
- Mueller-Dombois, Dieter, and F.R. Fosberg, Vegetation of the Tropical Pacific Islands. 1997. Reprint, New York: Springer, 1998. 112,122-123.
- SCBD. “Convention On Biological Diversity 1997 National Report To The Conference Of The Parties By The Republic Of Fiji.” Convention on Biological Diversity. <http://www.cbd.int/doc/world/fj/fj-nr-01-en.pdf> (accessed May 25, 2013).
- SCBD. "Fiji’s Fourth National Report to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.” Convention on Biological Diversity. <http://www.cbd.int/doc/world/fj/fj-nr-04-en.pdf> (accessed May 25, 2013).
- World Wildlife Fund. “Fiji tropical dry forests.” The Encyclopedia of Earth. December 6, 2006. <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Fiji_tropical_dry_forests> (accessed May 25, 2013).
- Department of Environment Fiji. “National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan: Definition of Biodiversity.” Department of Environment Fiji. <http://www.environment.gov.fj/national-biodiversity-strategy-action-plan/> (accessed May 27, 2013).