Fiji Research Articles

Smart Water Quality Monitoring System Design and KPIs Analysis: Case Sites of Fiji Surface Water

Over recent years, waters in and around Fiji has increasingly succumbed to a reasonable level of contamination. Water quality is defined with set of standards that clearly state the parameters of different properties in water. These standards are different at various geographic locations. The specific quantitative values of these parameters for the Fiji Islands are established by the Fiji National Drinking Water Quality Standards (FNDWQS). Fiji is geographically located in the vast Pacific Ocean, and requires a data collection framework for different water parameters to monitor water quality. The GIS framework system can effectively solve this continuously in real-time. With the end goal being to quantify different parameters; four (04) key performance indicators (KPI) are identified: Temperature, potential of hydrogen (pH), Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP), and Conductivity. This paper presents a Smart Water Quality Monitoring System (SWQMS) which has been developed and deployed in five (05) Fijian locations (nodes) for the aforementioned KPIs measurement. The SWQMS interfaced with GIS and were powered using solar based Renewable Energy Source (REs). Finally, obtained data were tested and analyzed using statistical methods and verified comparing with the FNDWQS. The findings demonstrated that the system is capable of delivering an accurate and consistent measurement of water quality in real-time. Hence SWQMS could be a smart choice for various Pacific Island Countries (PICs) to use to monitor the water quality and in turn develop sustainable cities and societies.

Seismic Evidence for Plume‐Slab Interaction by High‐Resolution Imaging of the 410‐km Discontinuity Under Tonga

AbstractThe Tonga‐Samoa system provides a unique tectonic context to study how a cold subducting slab interacts with a hot rising mantle plume. Here we present a 3‐D high‐resolution image of the 410‐km mantle discontinuity (the 410) using seismic signals excited by deep‐focus earthquakes. The 410 is found to be ~30 km shallower inside the Tonga slab relative to the ambient mantle and ~20 km deeper further to the northwest under Fiji Islands. The downward deflection of the 410 under Fiji supports the hypothesis of a plume migration around the northern edge of the Tonga slab from Samoan hot spot to under Fiji due to fast trench rollback. The 50‐km topography difference in the 410 between the plume and the slab corresponds to a temperature difference of ~500 ± 100 K. The Samoan plume is inferred to be 200 ± 50 K hotter than the ambient mantle and supports a thermal origin for the plume.

Sugarcane Weevil Borer (Rhabdoscelus Obscurus) in Fiji Islands and Recommendations Towards Its Control

Pests have been a constant threat to agriculture the world over. In the Fiji Islands where the major agricultural export commodity is raw sugar, the Sugarcane weevil borer is one such agricultural pest that poses a real threat to an already ailing industry. The Sugarcane weevil borer (Rhabdoscelus obscure) is a pest originally found in Papua New Guinea whose introduction into Fiji has resulted in crop damage particularly to the soft variety of sugarcane found in Fiji. This review highlights the emergence of the weevil borer and explains a possible control that could be implemented by the Fijian farmers. The current method of control in Fiji uses the split billet trap. While this method has been recognized as an economically viable method of controlling the spread of the weevil borer, it has not been completely effective in eradicating the pest. This paper highlights and puts forth recommendations on other methods which could be used by the sugarcane industry.

СИЛЬНЫЕ ЗЕМЛЕТРЯСЕНИЯ ЗЕМЛИ

The information on the Earth seismicity in 2013 at the level of strong earthquakes with M≥6 is provided according to the Seismological Bulletin of the Geophysical Survey of RAS (GS RAS). The initial Seismo-logical Bulletin for 2013 contains parameters of 4212 earthquakes in the world, versus 4845 in 2012. This article analyzes parameters of 160 strong earthquakes of the Earth in 2013 with M≥6, including 24 strongest earthquakes with M≥7 and the maximum earthquake of the Earth with Mw8.3 occurred in Okhotsk Sea, as well as four earthquakes with M6.0–6.8, which resulted in significant sacrifices and destructions. The location of earthquake epicenters and seismic stations, whose data were used to deter-mine the main parameters of earthquake foci, are shown, as well as a comparative analysis of the number of earthquakes and seismic energy released within the Earth's seismic regions is given. The information on focal mechanisms and consequences of 28 strongest earthquakes, including macroseismic effect, number of victims, landslides, tsunamis, etc. is given. The epicenters of most of them are confined to the boundaries of the largest tectonic plates of the Earth, and their focal mechanisms correspond to the basic laws of plate movement. The hypocenters of most of the strongest earthquakes are located within the Earth's crust, with the exception of earthquakes in Colombia, the Kuril Islands and south of the Fiji Is-lands, which had intermediate depths (h=98–171 km), and the strongest in 2013 Okhotsk earthquake, the source of which lay in the upper mantle at the depth of h=617 km. The movement in the source of the Okhotsk earthquake corresponds to the subduction process of the Pacific plate under the continent and indicates that the subducted plate is at the depth of 617 km.

Earthquake Hazard Micro Zonation in Fiji Islands: A Research of Viti Levu Island

Depending on magnitude the earthquake hazards can have collateral retort of devastations in collusion with the site-soil geology. Fiji – Tonga region accounts for about 70 percent of the world’s earthquakes with depths greater than 400 kilometres. Risk management through spatial planning is paramount for tectonism linked disasters in order to reduce the extent of fatality and economic cost. Humanity is at the ‘tipping point’ of self-destruction unless knowledge on disaster risk reduction is disseminated on time in the form of implementable solutions such as using ArcGIS as a tool to provide worthwhile segmentation of disaster prone zones to administrators. The present study aims at assessing the site-soil geology and earthquake hazard potentiality of VitiLevu Island using the GIS and remote sensing techniques. Site-soil geology, geomorphology, seismology and SRTM DEM data were the main sources of layers used to carry out analysis using the Saaty’s Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) and ArcGIS Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA).The technology involves preparing and assessing several contributing factors (thematic layers) those are assigned with weightage and rankings, and finally normalizing the assigned weights and ranking. In the ArcGIS 10.5 spatial analyst tool, the raster calculator, reclassify and weightage overlay tools were mainly employed in the study. The final output of EHZ indicates the ‘low’, ‘moderate’ and ‘high’ zones of potential earthquake disasters. The result provides a substantial readable guide for urban and regional spatial planners as well policy makers to formulate disaster reduction policies. Thus, informing civil societies, private societies and community to become well - versed with adaptive strategies suitable to withstand and encounter earthquake hazards.

Smallholder Farmer Perceptions of Postharvest Loss and Its Determinants in Fijian Tomato Value Chains

The Fiji Islands, like many small Pacific island nations, are thought to incur high rates of postharvest loss. Little work has been undertaken to quantify the amount of loss within Pacific horticultural value chains, or identify the key determinants. This study sought to quantify postharvest loss within Fijian smallholder tomato value chains and to examine the relative importance of current on-farm practices as possible contributors to this loss. A semi-structured survey of 115 smallholder tomato farmers in Sigatoka Valley and eastern Viti Levu was undertaken, covering socio-economic and demographic parameters, production and postharvest handling practice, and postharvest loss based on farmer recall. On-farm postharvest loss for smallholder farmer tomato value chains was between 26.1% in Sigatoka Valley and 27.6% in eastern Viti Levu. This finding was consistent with quantification of postharvest loss in Fijian tomato chains by direct determination, but is relatively high when compared to smallholder tomato value chain loss in Sub-Saharan Africa. When Fijian tomato value chains were segregated according to specific postharvest handling practice, the contributors to postharvest loss were often associated with on-farm decision-making. Those value chains that only harvested once a week, or in the early morning (before 7 am) or mid-day onwards, stored harvest product in the field for more than three hours, did not sort or grade prior to on-farm ripening, or used packing sheds that had relatively open designs, all had consistently higher levels of postharvest loss. The prevalence of specific postharvest handling practice in both locations is further reported. While this study highlights the impact of current on-farm postharvest handling practices on tomato value chain loss, what remain unclear are the underlying drivers associated with current postharvest handling behaviour and the decision-making that shapes quality and logistic control activities.

Discourse on the Last Descendent: The Chief as a Constellation of Signs in Contemporary Fiji

Discourse on the Last Descendent: The Chief as a Constellation of Signs in Contemporary Fiji

Revision of the circumglobal genus Barathronus (Ophidiiformes, Bythitidae) with a new species from the eastern North Atlantic Ocean.

The viviparous genus Barathronus Goode Bean, 1886 is known from 11 species. Examination of 68 specimens, not earlier published upon, and re-examination of older material have resulted in taxonomical changes and new distributions. B. unicolor Nielsen, 1984 has become a junior synonym of B. pacificus Nielsen Eagle, 1974, now known from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The number of specimens of B. parfaiti Vaillant, 1888 is restricted to the holotype and a specimen from off the Azores (MOM P01-0003665), often referred to B. parfaiti, represents a new species, B. roulei, herein described. B. diaphanus Brauer, 1906 is now recorded from off Madagascar eastwards to Tonga and Fiji Islands.

Review of the bee genus Homalictus Cockerell (Hymenoptera: Halictidae)from Fiji with description of nine new species.

The genus Homalictus Cockerell has not been taxonomically reviewed in the Fijian archipelago for 40 years. Here we redescribe the four known species and describe nine new ones, bringing the number of endemic Homalictus in Fiji to 13 species. We provide identifications keys to all species. Most of the species diversity (11 species) have their distributions over 800 m asl (meters above sea level; highlands), and with only two species under 800 m asl (lowlands). We highlight the vulnerability of the highland-restricted species to a warming climate, and document the potential extinction of one highland species. The new species described here are H. atritergus sp. nov., H. concavus sp. nov., H. groomi sp. nov., H. kaicolo sp. nov., H. nadarivatu sp. nov., H. ostridorsum sp. nov., H. taveuni sp. nov. H. terminalis sp. nov. and H. tuiwawae sp. nov.. [Zoobank URL: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:71318BEC-40CD-470F-A1E7-0E1FD18A6459].

Shark-based tourism presents opportunities for facultative dietary shift in coral reef fish.

Tourism represents an important opportunity to provide sustainable funding for many ecosystems, including marine systems. Tourism that is reliant on aggregating predator species in a specific area using food provisioning raises questions about the long-term ecological impacts to the ecosystem at large? Here, using opportunistically collected video footage, we document that 61 different species of fish across 16 families are consuming tuna flesh at two separate shark dive tourism operations in the Republic of Fiji. Of these fish, we have resolved 55 to species level. Notably, 35 (63%) of the identified species we observed consuming tuna flesh were from ostensibly non-piscivorous fishes, including four Acanthuridae species, a group primarily recognized as browsers or grazers of algae and epibenthic detritus. Our results indicate that shark diving is having a direct impact on species other than sharks and that many species are facultatively expanding their trophic niches to accommodate the hyperabundance of resources provided by ecotourism.

Morphological plasticity in a Fijian Seagrass: Halophila ovalis subsp. bullosa

Seagrasses are marine flowering plants found along both tropical and temperate coastlines; they possess great ecological importance as nurseries, nutrient sinks, and providers of critical marine habitat. Understanding the distribution and diversity of seagrass habitats is important for their conservation and management, however this is impeded by varying species’ diversity, the extensive distribution of seagrasses and taxonomic uncertainty. In the Fiji Islands, the tropical seagrass Halophila ovalis and its subspecies H. ovalis bullosa are the subject of taxonomic controversy, as a singular morphological characteristic distinguishes the two. This characteristic is the bullated, or blister-like leaves of the latter, compared to the smooth leaves of the former, which in some instances have been observed on the same plant (S.S., pers. obs.). This study examined material from both taxa, along with three other seagrass species (Halodule pinifolia, H. uninervis and Syringodium isoetifolium; total n=95) and used independent morphological and molecular barcoding approaches to assess the conspecificity of the two Halophila taxa. Examination of vegetative and reproductive characters was not able to distinguish between H. ovalis and H. ovalis subsp. bullosa, while phylogenetic reconstructions using ITS2, matK and trnH-psbA barcodes supported their monophyly. We recommend revision and merger of these taxa, while the approach used here is highly useful for taxonomic resolution in other seagrass taxa, for their conservation, restoration and management.

Early life history of tropical freshwater eels (Anguilla spp.) recruiting to Viti Levu, Fiji Islands, in the western South Pacific

The oceanic early life histories of three species of tropical anguillid glass eels, namely Anguilla marmorata, Anguilla megastoma and Anguilla obscura, recruiting to Viti Levu, Fiji Islands, in the western South Pacific, were studied using otolith microstructures of 94 individuals. A. megastoma had the shortest leptocephalus duration, age at recruitment and metamorphosis stage (mean±s.d. 104.7±7.2, 141.3±8.7 and 36.6±8.5 days respectively), followed by A. marmorata (September–October recruitment peak: 113.0±11.9, 115.1±8.3 and 39.2±11.1 days respectively; April recruitment peak: 152.2±13.5, 154.0±12.5 and 38.9±10.1 days respectively) and A. obscura (118.0±10.2, 168.4±16.5 and 49.6±12.5 days respectively). A. obscura also had the shortest oceanic glass eel duration of (12.2±3.4 days), followed by both peaks of A. marmorata (23.3±3.2 and 20.2±3.3 days) and A. megastoma (20.7±6.7 days). Otolith increment rates during the leptocephalus stage did not differ significantly among the three species, but there were significant differences between the leptocephalus duration and metamorphosis stage of A. megastoma compared with A. marmorata and A. obscura, as well as in the oceanic glass eel duration of A. obscura compared with A. marmorata and A. megastoma. There were also significant differences in the age at recruitment among all three species. Back-calculated hatch dates suggest separate peak seasonal spawning periods for each of the three species.

Widespread Wolbachia infection in an insular radiation of damselflies (Odonata, Coenagrionidae)

Wolbachia is one of the most common endosymbionts found infecting arthropods. Theory predicts symbionts like Wolbachia will be more common in species radiations, as host shift events occur with greatest frequency between closely related species. Further, the presence of Wolbachia itself may engender reproductive isolation, and promote speciation of their hosts. Here we screened 178 individuals belonging to 30 species of the damselfly genera Nesobasis and Melanesobasis — species radiations endemic to the Fiji archipelago in the South Pacific — for Wolbachia, using multilocus sequence typing to characterize bacterial strains. Incidence of Wolbachia was 71% in Nesobasis and 40% in Melanesobasis, and prevalence was also high, with an average of 88% in the Nesobasis species screened. We identified a total of 25 Wolbachia strains, belonging to supergroups A, B and F, with some epidemic strains present in multiple species. The occurrence of Wolbachia in both males and females, and the similar global prevalence found in both sexes rules out any strong effect of Wolbachia on the primary sex-ratio, but are compatible with the phenotype of cytoplasmic incompatibility. Nesobasis has higher species richness than most endemic island damselfly genera, and we discuss the potential for endosymbiont-mediated speciation within this group.

Sustained Low-Level Transmission of Zika and Chikungunya Viruses after Emergence in the Fiji Islands.

Zika and chikungunya viruses were first detected in Fiji in 2015. Examining surveillance and phylogenetic and serologic data, we found evidence of low-level transmission of Zika and chikungunya viruses during 2013–2017, in contrast to the major outbreaks caused by closely related virus strains in other Pacific Island countries.

Measuring Peripherality as a Proxy for Autonomous Community Coping Capacity: A Case Study from Bua Province, Fiji Islands, for Improving Climate Change Adaptation

Over the past thirty years, externally-driven interventions for climate-change adaptation in rural Pacific Island contexts have largely failed to be effective or sustained. One reason is that traditional (culturally-grounded) autonomous community coping capacity has been overlooked, many external agencies viewing all such communities as both homogenous and helpless. A community’s autonomous coping capacity can be proxied by peripherality, a measure of the degree to which a particular community in archipelagic (island) countries engages with core agendas. In order to gauge the depth, breadth and efficacy of autonomous coping capacity, three indices of community peripherality were developed from research within thirteen communities in (peripheral-biased) Bua Province in Fiji. Index 1 concerns geography (travel time/cost to town), Index 2 concerns population and employment (community size, age distribution, employment), and Index 3 concerns tradition and global awareness (mobile phones per capita, traditional/western healthcare preferences, inherent coping capacity, diet, water and energy security). Mapping of Indices 1–3 allows the nature of community peripherality in Bua to be captured using a readily-reproducible tool for rapid assessment in similar contexts. It is demonstrated that an understanding of peripherality (as a proxy for autonomous community coping capacity) can inform the design of future interventions for climate-change adaptation.

Gender-specific perspectives of mangrove ecosystem services: Case study from Bua Province, Fiji Islands

In many Pacific Island Countries, mangroves deliver ecosystem goods and services that are essential to the livelihoods of local people. For coastal and rural communities throughout Fiji, it is common for women to be the main caretakers of mangroves, and to access and utilise their resources on a regular basis. This paper explores local perspectives of Fijian men and women on the use, benefit and value of mangrove ecosystems. Across six rural villages within the Bua Province, Fiji, a series of semi-structured household interviews (n = 41) were undertaken, coupled with participant observation. These findings provide insights into how gender roles influence the ways people value and interact with local ecosystems. This paper concludes with a call to incorporate gender into ecosystem-service valuation and management interventions so that they can produce sustainable and equitable livelihood outcomes.

Henry Dyer Remembers: A Social History of Old Lautoka and Namoli Village, Fiji, 1962-2000

This section discusses the restaurants and nightlife of Old Lautoka City, Fiji Islands, in the 1960s through to the 1990s, as recalled by the ex-Nadi and Fiji soccer champion Henry Dyer Tuidraki in interview with Kieran James on April 16, 2015.

Human mediated translocation of Pacific paper mulberry [Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L'Hér. ex Vent. (Moraceae)]: Genetic evidence of dispersal routes in Remote Oceania.

Paper mulberry, Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L’Hér. ex Vent. (Moraceae), a dioecious species, was transported by humans from Taiwan to the islands of Remote Oceania. Its introduction and cultivation in Remote Oceania was intentional due to its cultural importance as a fiber source for barkcloth textiles. The aim of this study was to explore the genetic diversity and structure of paper mulberry populations within Remote Oceania in order to infer dispersal patterns that may reflect past human interaction among island groups. We present the integrated analysis of 380 samples (313 contemporary and 67 herbarium specimens) collected in Near and Remote Oceania. Genetic characterization was based on a set of ten microsatellites developed for B. papyrifera and complemented with the analysis of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer ITS-1 sequence, a sex marker and the chloroplast ndhF–rpl32 intergenic spacer. Microsatellite data identify a total of 64 genotypes, despite this being a clonally propagated crop, and show three major dispersal hubs within Remote Oceania, centered on the islands of Fiji, Tonga, and Pitcairn. Of 64 genotypes identified, 55 correspond to genotypes associated to female-sexed plants that probably descend from plants introduced by the prehistoric Austronesian-speaking voyagers. The ratio of accessions to genotypes between herbarium and contemporary samples, suggests recent loss of genetic diversity. In addition to the chloroplast haplotypes described previously, we detected two new haplotypes within Remote Oceania both originating in Taiwan. This is the first study of a commensal species to show genetic structuring within Remote Oceania. In spite of the genetic bottleneck, the presence of only one sex, a timespan of less than 5000 years, and asexual propagation of this crop in Remote Oceania, we detect genetic diversity and regional structuring. These observations suggest specific migration routes between island groups within Remote Oceania.

Globalisation and cultural change in Pacific Island countries: the role of tourism

Globalisation is often perceived as a threat to the preservation of traditional cultures. There are various approaches to understanding the impact of globalisation on culture. Pieterse’s three paradigms of globalisation and culture, clash of civilisations, McDonaldisation and hybridisation, provide a useful theoretical foundation for understanding how tourism impacts culture. The three paradigms of globalisation assess cultural change holistically. Cultural change in Pacific Island countries (PIC) due to globalisation, especially tourism’s role, in this change, is the focus. Data are sourced via interviews with various tourism stakeholders from Fiji, Tonga and Cook Islands. Tourism is only one driver of cultural change. Other forces include mobilities, migration, diaspora, geopolitical change, technology and popular culture. Examples of the clash of civilisations paradigm include geopolitical changes resulting in different tourism markets and the imitation effect from diaspora and tourists. Commodification of cultural performance for both tourist and local consumption and use of popular culture, for example the animated film Moana, are viewed as McDonaldisation of culture. Participants’ reflections on ongoing evolution of culture including the integration of PIC into the world economy, through increased mobilities and technologies, exemplify hybridisation. In general, the three PIC are found to be culturally resilient. Culture of these PIC is resilient with Pacific Islanders maintaining agency over change, however the impact of various globalisation factors demand effort in preserving culture in the long term.

Outlining the Language Policy and Planning (LPP) in Fiji; Taking Directions From Fiji Islands Education Commission Report of 2000

Language is something many individuals take for granted. It is usually when we discover that our language (or language variety) is different from and perhaps less valued than, the language of others or that our options are somehow limited, either because ‘we do not speak/understand a language or language variety, or use it inappropriately or ineffectively in a particular context that we begin to pay attention to language’. This paper gives a sketch of Language Policy and Planning (LPP) which is becoming a well-researched field for many academics as well as postgraduate students. The article provides the latest pertinent information on Fiji’s LPP, the linguistic background as well as the medium of instruction (MOI). It further deliberates on the recommendations from the Fiji Islands Education Commission Report of 2000 which is a well-articulated document that provides an overt grounding for LPP in the South Pacific.