SPC PROCFish/C Invertebrates Observations Fiji 2002-2003

Study Extent

Dromuna, Lakeba Village, Lakeba Island, Mali and Muaivuso in Fiji

Sampling

Diversity and abundance of invertebrate species were determined using a range of survey techniques, including broad-scale assessment (using the manta-tow technique) and finer-scale assessment of specific reef and benthic habitats. Broad-scale assessments were used to record large sedentary invertebrates; transects were 300 m long × 2 m wide, across inshore, midshore and more exposed oceanic habitats. Fine-scale assessments were conducted in target areas (areas with naturally higher abundance and/or the most suitable habitat) to specifically describe resource status. Fine-scale assessments were conducted of both reef (hard-bottom) and sandy (soft-bottom) areas to assess the range, size, and condition of invertebrate species present and to determine the nature and condition of the habitat with greater accuracy. These assessments were conducted using 40 m transects (1 m wide swathe, six replicates per station) recording most epi-benthic resources (those living on the bottom) and potential indicator species. For trochus and bêche-de-mer fisheries, searches to assess aggregations were made in the surf zone along exposed reef edges. On occasion, when time and conditions allowed, dives to 25–35 m were made to determine the availability of deeper-water sea cucumber populations. Night searches were conducted on inshore reefs to assess nocturnal sea cucumber species See http://purl.org/spc/digilib/doc/pfj5w

Quality Control

Replicates from two soft benthos transects (6 & 7) excluded as they are lacking position

Method steps

1. Multiple observations for the same species aggregated by replicate. For replicates with a start and end positions (manta tow), the position provided is the middle point.

1. Acanthaster planci
2. Actinopyga echinites
3. Actinopyga lecanora
4. Actinopyga mauritiana
5. Actinopyga miliaris
6. Aiptasia sp.
7. Anadara antiquata
8. Anadara sp.
9. Archaster typicus
10. Astralium sp.
11. Atrina sp.
12. Atrina vexillum
13. Bohadschia argus
14. Bohadschia marmorata
15. Bohadschia vitiensis
16. Bulla ampulla
17. Cassiopea andromeda
18. Cassiopea sp.
19. Ceraesignum maximum
20. Cerithium nodulosum
21. Cerithium sp.
22. Chama sp.
23. Charonia sp.
24. Charonia tritonis
25. Choriaster granulatus
26. Conomurex luhuanus
27. Conus ebraeus
28. Conus flavidus
29. Conus frigidus
30. Conus leopardus
31. Conus litteratus
32. Conus marmoreus
33. Conus miles
34. Conus sp.
35. Conus textile
36. Cryptoplax sp.
37. Culcita novaeguineae
38. Cypraea sp.
39. Cypraea tigris
40. Dardanus sp.
41. Diadema sp.
42. Dolabella auricularia
43. Drupa sp.
44. Echinometra mathaei
45. Echinometra sp.
46. Echinothrix calamaris
47. Echinothrix diadema
48. Euapta sp.
49. Eucidaris sp.
50. Filifusus filamentosus
51. Fragum unedo
52. Gafrarium pectinatum
53. Gibberulus gibberulus gibbosus
54. Heterocentrotus mamillatus
55. Holothuria atra
56. Holothuria coluber
57. Holothuria edulis
58. Holothuria fuscogilva
59. Holothuria fuscopunctata
60. Holothuria hilla
61. Holothuria leucospilota
62. Holothuria nobilis
63. Holothuria pervicax
64. Holothuria scabra
65. Holothuria sp.
66. Hyotissa sp.
67. Lambis lambis
68. Lambis sp.
69. Lambis truncata
70. Latirolagena smaragdulus
71. Lentigo lentiginosus
72. Linckia laevigata
73. Mancinella armigera
74. Mespilia globulus
75. Modiolus sp.
76. Monetaria annulus
77. Monetaria caputserpentis
78. Nassarius sp.
79. Octopus cyanea
80. Panulirus sp.
81. Panulirus versicolor
82. Pearsonothuria graeffei
83. Periglypta puerpera
84. Pinctada margaritifera
85. Pinna bicolor
86. Pinna sp.
87. Pitar prora
88. Pitar sp.
89. Polinices sp.
90. Pseudovertagus aluco
91. Quidnipagus palatam
92. Scutarcopagia scobinata
93. Spondylus sp.
94. Spondylus squamosus
95. Stichopus chloronotus
96. Stichopus hermanni
97. Stichopus horrens
98. Strombus labiatus
99. Synapta sp.
100. Tectus niloticus
101. Tectus pyramis
102. Tectus sp.
103. Terebra sp.
104. Thais sp.
105. Thais tuberosa
106. Thelenota ananas
107. Thelenota anax
108. Toxopneustes pileolus
109. Trachycardium sp.
110. Tridacna derasa
111. Tridacna maxima
112. Tridacna squamosa
113. Tripneustes gratilla
114. Trochus maculatus
115. Trochus sp.
116. Turbo argyrostomus
117. Turbo chrysostomus
118. Turbo crassus
119. Turbo setosus
120. Turbo sp.
121. Tutufa bubo
122. Tylothais aculeata
123. Vasum ceramicum
124. Vasum sp.
125. Vasum turbinellus

Dromuna, Lakeba Village, Lakeba Island, Mali and Muaivuso in Fiji