Title
Identifying Invertebrate Representation within Fiji’s Future Network of Forest Reserves
Author(s)
Sunil Rajesh Prasad
Abstract
This study focuses on using leaf litter invertebrates (weevil Curculionidae, harvestmen Opilione, Rove beetles Staphylinidae) as invertebrate biodiversity indicators in highlighting areas with high biodiversity conservation value. The leaf litter invertebrates were collected by sifting leaf litter from twenty 1m2 quadrats along a 100m transect. This was repeated three times at each site. The sites were standardised at 300m above sea level. The collected leaf litter was processed in Winkler bags for 48 hours after which the collected specimens were alpha sorted (separation of target taxa from other taxa and debris) followed by morphospecies sorting based on predetermined morphological characters. The morphospecies presence/absence and abundance data was used to subject the sites to Jaccard’s nearest neighbour similarity test and MDS Decorana plot analysis. The dissimilar sites were mapped to produce an Important Invertebrates Areas (IIAs) map, which was assessed against other important taxa areas (palms, angio perms, heritage trees and other invertebrates). A high degree of overlap between the IIAs and 13 other important taxa areas, and identification of important biodiversity areas within Fiji on a finer geographic scale suggested that the invertebrates used in this study were good biodiversity indicators.

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