"fijis most critically endangered habitat"
(IUCN RED LIST)
DID YOU KNOW: "10 percent of the 476 indigenous Fijian plant species identified are endemic" (fiji.gov)
One of the most endangered habitats in the tropical Pacific, tropical dry forests are limited to large island rain shadows. In Fiji tropical dry forests, "once occupied about one third of the land area of [it's] largest high islands," but now it has been "reduced to 1% of its historic extent" (geog.ucla.tdfpacific).
The Fijian dry forest is one of the largest dry forests in the South Pacific. It supports a great diversity of endemic species that have been reduced to relict populations, and are in grave danger of becoming extinct. The Fijian dry forest is known as the Dacrydium-Fagraea type because of two distinctive canopy species: the conifer Dacrydium nidulum, and the flowering plant Fagraea gracilipes. Among many other canopy species, there are the gymnosperms Podocarpus neriifolius and Gymnostoma vitiense, and the widely distributed Dysoxylum richii, Intsia bijuga, Parinari insularum, Myristica castaneifolia and Syzygium spp.
The drier areas were once covered by extensive forests of sandalwood (Santalum yasi), Casuarina equisetifolia, Gymnostoma vitiense and climbing ferns (Lygodium scandens), sustaining a large fauna of pollinating, fruit-eating birds and invertebrates. However, fires have turned these areas into small patches of sandalwood, preventing the restoration of this endemic tree species. The whistling tree duck (Dendrocygna arcuata) and the grass owl (Tyto longimembris) HYPERLINK "http://www.eoearth.org/article/Habitat" \o "Habitat" used to forage in these dry habitats, but they are now extinct to Fiji. The bolo snake (Ogmodon vitianus) and Pacific boa (Engyrus bibronii and E. australis) may have once inhabited the dry forests. We are able to reconstruct the past atmospheric conditions and floristic composition of these areas by collecting varve lake sediment cores and analyzing the density of pollens and diatoms in the specimen.
In the seasonally dry lowland zone of Viti Levu, the Dacrydium-Fagraea forest has been replaced by Casuarina equisetifolia stands and grassy undergrowth which includes Mussaenda raiateensis, Decaspermum fruticosum (Myrtaceae), Dodonaea viscosa and Macaranga spp. In later stages of recovery, there are the palm Pritchardia pacifica, the trees Alphitonia zizyphoides, Trichospermum richii (Tiliaceae), Acacia richii and Gymnostoma vitiense; also climber species like Entada phaseoloides, Mucuna spp., and Freycinetia storckii and some rattan, Calamus spp.
The coastal dry forests are found across many of the islets and atolls in Fiji. They are the home of large numbers of breeding seabirds as well as other species like the Pacific pigeon (Ducula pacifica), the purple-capped fruit dove (Ptilinopus porphyraceus), collared lory (Phigys solitarius), crested iguana (Brachylophus spp.), and coconut crabs (Birgus latro).
The Fijian dry forest is one of the largest dry forests in the South Pacific. It supports a great diversity of endemic species that have been reduced to relict populations, and are in grave danger of becoming extinct. The Fijian dry forest is known as the Dacrydium-Fagraea type because of two distinctive canopy species: the conifer Dacrydium nidulum, and the flowering plant Fagraea gracilipes. Among many other canopy species, there are the gymnosperms Podocarpus neriifolius and Gymnostoma vitiense, and the widely distributed Dysoxylum richii, Intsia bijuga, Parinari insularum, Myristica castaneifolia and Syzygium spp.
The drier areas were once covered by extensive forests of sandalwood (Santalum yasi), Casuarina equisetifolia, Gymnostoma vitiense and climbing ferns (Lygodium scandens), sustaining a large fauna of pollinating, fruit-eating birds and invertebrates. However, fires have turned these areas into small patches of sandalwood, preventing the restoration of this endemic tree species. The whistling tree duck (Dendrocygna arcuata) and the grass owl (Tyto longimembris) HYPERLINK "http://www.eoearth.org/article/Habitat" \o "Habitat" used to forage in these dry habitats, but they are now extinct to Fiji. The bolo snake (Ogmodon vitianus) and Pacific boa (Engyrus bibronii and E. australis) may have once inhabited the dry forests. We are able to reconstruct the past atmospheric conditions and floristic composition of these areas by collecting varve lake sediment cores and analyzing the density of pollens and diatoms in the specimen.
In the seasonally dry lowland zone of Viti Levu, the Dacrydium-Fagraea forest has been replaced by Casuarina equisetifolia stands and grassy undergrowth which includes Mussaenda raiateensis, Decaspermum fruticosum (Myrtaceae), Dodonaea viscosa and Macaranga spp. In later stages of recovery, there are the palm Pritchardia pacifica, the trees Alphitonia zizyphoides, Trichospermum richii (Tiliaceae), Acacia richii and Gymnostoma vitiense; also climber species like Entada phaseoloides, Mucuna spp., and Freycinetia storckii and some rattan, Calamus spp.
The coastal dry forests are found across many of the islets and atolls in Fiji. They are the home of large numbers of breeding seabirds as well as other species like the Pacific pigeon (Ducula pacifica), the purple-capped fruit dove (Ptilinopus porphyraceus), collared lory (Phigys solitarius), crested iguana (Brachylophus spp.), and coconut crabs (Birgus latro).
Learn more about the worlds most endangered forests
Fiji Forest Species Identification poster
Species list of trees
Species List of Flora (non-exhaustive) | |
File Size: | 330 kb |
File Type: |
Sources:
- 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).
- Gillespie, T. Tropical Dry Forests of The Pacific. "Worlds Most Endangered Forests" Department of Geography UCLA. http://www.geog.ucla.edu/tdfpacific/Trailer.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).
- Gillespie, T. Tropical Dry Forests of The Pacific. "Worlds Most Endangered Forests" Department of Geography UCLA. http://www.geog.ucla.edu/tdfpacific/Trailer.html