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Description
The South Pacific Regional Herbarium (SPRH), previously known as the Fiji Herbarium, was established in 1933 by botanist B. E. V. Parham of the Fiji Department of Agriculture. The University of the South Pacific, through the Institute of Applied Sciences, assumed responsibility for the maintenance and administration of the facility in 1982. It serves the university’s twelve member countries and is a member of a global network of herbaria, and bears the international herbarium code ‘SUVA’.
The SPRH acts as a repository for permanent voucher specimens of plants that are representative of the flora of the Pacific Islands region, including those plant species that are unique, rare, and threatened. It is an important reference collection and storehouse of information pertaining to taxonomy, conservation, ecology, climate change, and ethnobotany of the Pacific Island plants. It maintains an extensive collection of preserved and identified plant specimens from around the region and currently houses more than 80,000 plant specimens.
Services provided by the SPRH include plant identification, biodiversity assessment surveys, para-taxonomy training in botany, environmental impact assessment of plants, conservation of endangered plants and their ecosystems, and vegetation ecology research and monitoring. The SPRH is headed by the curator, Marika Tuiwawa, a botanist and ecologist with more than thirty years’ experience in Fiji and the Pacific. His team is comprised of local specialists in a wide range of taxa including vascular plants, bryophytes, birds, bats, freshwater fish and invertebrates, insects, reptiles and amphibians.
Contact Person: 
| Name: Marika Tuiwawa
Title: Curator
Email: marika.tuiwawa(at)usp.ac.fj
Contact: +679 32 32970 |
Mission
We provide high quality applied scientific services through: - conserving, discovering and sharing knowledge about plants and their environment, in order to preserve and enrich life and to discover new information about plants, promoting the efforts of the botanical research community, and disseminating information to a wide range of potential recipients.
Herbarium Collection
Since its establishment in 1933 the SPRH has become an important reference collection and botanical information storehouse, with an extensive collection of preserved and identified plant specimens from Fiji and the region. The vascular plant collection is comprised of specimens from Fiji, Nauru, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Pitcairn, Norfolk Island, Tonga, Samoa and Solomon Islands. This includes specimens deposited by renown botanists B.E.V Parham, John W. Parham, A. C. Smith, S. Vodonaivalu, D. Koroiveibau, A. Sundaresan, S. Siwatibau, M. J. Berry, G. Brownlie, G. Webster, R. Hildreth, I. T. Kurivoli, P. B. Tomlinson, H. E. Parks, H. St. John, H. E. Moore, O. Degener, D. Anderson, S. Nand, H. R. Hughes, E. Zogg, D. Norris, J. Ash, P. Cox, H. Manner, D. Hassal, and R. Thaman.
Also, the small bryophyte collection includes specimens from Fiji, Cook Islands, Samoa and Solomon Islands. The most notable deposits of the bryophytes are the liverwort specimens, particularly those of the Lejeuneaceae family that were collected and identified by a well-respected bryologist, Tamás Pócs. Collectively the SPRH consists of more than 50,000 plant specimens and 3000 bryophyte specimens.
Additionally, over the years the scope of work of the SPRH has expanded to include housing fauna specimens, with significant collections being made of both vertebrate and invertebrate species. The SPRH houses close to 8000 insect specimens, 200 herpetofauna (amphibians & reptiles) specimens and 100 bird specimens. The freshwater vertebrate and invertebrate specimens are housed together with the marine specimens at the School of Marine Studies Marine Collection.

Specimen Database
SUVA Specimen Index
Browse Specimen Index by Family
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For comments or corrections please contact Marika Tuiwawa, curator of the South Pacific Regional Herbarium, by email: tuiwawa_m@usp.ac.fj.
Research
The list below contains thesis titles from both Masters (MSc) and Doctoral (PhD) research by the IAS South Pacific Regional Herbarium postgraduates, for both completed and current students. Click on thesis titles (blue text) to read more about each research. No. | Degree | Thesis Title | Name | Photo | 1 | MSc | Reassessment of the flora and vegetation along an altitudinal transect on the slope of Mt. Korobaba, Rewa Province, Fiji. | Iliesa Koroi | 
| 2 | MSc | Trunk-inhabiting bryophyte diversity on two common native trees along an altitudinal gradient on Viti Levu, Fiji | Mereia Tabua | 
| 3 | MSc | Diversity and community structure of macro-moths (Lepidoptera) in forest habitats on Viti Levu | Siteri Tikoca | 
| 4 | MSc | Effect of catchment forest cover on macroinvertebrate community structure in streams of Fiji. | Bindiya Rashni | 
| 5 | MSc | Seasonality, habitats and micro-habitats of fishes in small to medium size streams in Nakorotubu, Ra, Fiji. | Lekima Copeland | 
| 6 | MSc | The distribution and abundance of Fiji's ground frog, Platymantis vitianus and the cane toad, Bufo marinus on Viwa Island, Tailevu. | Nunia Thomas | 
| 7 | MSc | Diversity distribution and abundance of Fijian freshwater fish. | David Boseto | 
| 8 | MSc | The distribtion, conservation status and ethnobiology of Metroxylon vitiense in Fiji. | Isaac Rounds | 
| 9 | MSc | Monitoring comparative spatial and temporal variation in the land-birds of Vago-Savura Forest Reserve a native lowland rainforest in South East Viti Levu, Fiji. | Alivereti Naikatini | 
| 10 | PhD MSc | Taxonomy, phylogenetics and biogeography of the Fijian long-horned beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) Taxonomy, diversity and distribution of canopy Coleoptera (Beetles) along elevational gradients on Eastern Viti Levu, Fiji. | Hilda Sakiti Waqa | 
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Projects
20172016
Samoa Flora Project l
The National Tropical Botanical Garden, Kauai, organized a flora expedition on Upolu and Savai’I on Samoa. Our local bryophyte specialist, was the recipient of their fellowship award to join the six-week expedition, which provided the opportunity to collect bryophytes from various habitats and localities on the two main islands of Samoa.
201520142013
REDD+ Emalu Forest Survey
A rapid biodiversity assessment and archaeological survey was done on a Fiji REDD+ Pilot Site - the Emalu forest area on Viti Levu. This survey was the second phase to the assessment that was done in 2012.
External links:
http://fiji-reddplus.org/mataqali-emalu-redd-pilot-site
http://www.tltb.com.fj/pilot-site-for-redd-in-draubuta/
Delaikoro Biodiversity Rapid Assessment, Socioeconomic Study and Archaeological Survey
The Global Environment Facility, through the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, funded this project to assess the biological diversity and conduct the socio-economic and archaeological survey of the Delaikoro mountain ecosystem on Vanua Levu, a proposed protected area.
External links:
http://www.fao.org/asiapacific/news/detail-events/en/c/281205/
https://youtu.be/9sY8FUjVM5s
REDD+ Vunivia Forest Survey
A rapid biodiversity assessment, archaeological survey and socio-political study of a Fiji REDD+ pilot site was conducted in Vunivia on Vanua Levu.
External links:
http://fiji-reddplus.org/vunia-redd-pilot-site
http://theredddesk.org/countries/initiatives/vunivia-redd-pilot-project
New Range Extensions
Vegetation surveys, headed by herbarium curator Marika Tuiwawa and consultant Senilolia Tuiwawa, in Emalu, in the province of Nadroga-Navosa, revealed the presence of some botanically important plant species. These important range extension discoveries were made for two endemic species on the IUCN Red List; Acmopyle sahniana and Degeneria vitiensis; as well as two other rare endemic palms whose Red List status is currently under review (Cyphosperma naboutinense and Metroxylon vitiensis). A new range extension to an altitude of 700m was also recorded for the orchid Nervilia cf. aragoana, which has previously only been recorded from altitudes below 400m. Another range extension is of the horsetail, Equisetum ramossimum subsp. debile previously recorded from the provinces of Namosi, Naitasiri and Ba. One other plant species was collected which is the most recent record and new range extension for the ground orchid Macodes cf. petola. This is a very rare species and one not normally seen in the forest.
Fiji Liveworts New Findings
Three new occurrence records were made for Fiji liverworts. MSc student, Mereia Katafono, discovered these new finds for Fiji during the process of identifying several hundred moss and liverwort samples collected during her fieldwork. The three liverworts were all collected from Vago Forest Reserve in the province of Naitasiri. One of them, not yet identified to species level, belongs to the genus Cephaloziella, and is the first member of this genus to be found in Fiji. Two other species (Telaranea tasmanica and Telaranea aff. Granulate) have also never been found in Fiji before.
New Findings in Habitat Ecology, and Plant-animal Interactions
During fieldwork in the Rewa delta as part of the IUCN MESCAL project, MSc student Lekima Copeland recorded a new addition to the brackish water fishes of Fiji; the sweetlip Plectorhinchus albovittatus. Previously this species was only known in Fiji from reef habitats. The finding of a juvenile specimen in the brackish delta waters expands our knowledge of the life cycle requirements of this species and highlights the importance of the mangrove ecosystem as a nursery for juvenile reef fishes.
Two significant breakthroughs were made in the CEPF-funded project ‘Conservation of Fiji’s Endemic and Rare Butterflies: Hypolimnas inopinata and Papilio schmeltzi’, which is coordinated by Hilda Sakiti-Waqa. The identity of the host plant of H. inopinata has now been determined conclusively to be Elatostema nemorosum Seem., an endemic member of the nettle family (Urticaceae). Additionally, the life cycle of this rare butterfly has been comprehensively documented, with larval instars, pupa and egg stages identified and their morphology fully recorded.
2012
Emalu REDD+
An initial rapid biodiversity assessment and archaeological survey was done on the Emalu forest area in the Navosa province on Viti Levu
MESCAL project – Rewa river delta
This project was implemented by the IUCN Oceania to conduct preliminary assessments of biomass and carbon inventory in mangrove forests.
External links:
http://theredddesk.org/countries/initiatives/mangrove-ecosystem-conservation-and-livelihoods-mescal-project
http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/mescal_brochure_030810_compressed.pdf
https://www.iucn.org/sites/dev/files/mangroves_biodiversity_assessment_report_fiji.pdf
MESCAL Mangrove Project and the World Bank REDD+ project (to assess standing carbon stocks in an interior forest)
IAS also continued to develop expertise in community-based economic analysis, working with Landcare NZ in 2012 to assess the economic impact of invasive species and with Landcare NZ and PACE-SD (USP) to study cost-benefit analysis of various approaches to disaster risk reduction.
IAS staff also continued studies on butterflies, cloud forest biodiversity and the impacts of locally-managed marine areas.
East Melanesia Conservation Investment Strategy : Critical Environment Partnership Fund
The IAS team was requested by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) to manage the development of a regional profile and investment strategy for the Eastern Melanesian Islands, which includes Vanuatu and Solomon Islands. CEPF is a joint initiative of l’Agence Française de Dévelopment, Conservation International, the European Union, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the World Bank. A fundamental goal is to ensure civil society is engaged in biodiversity conservation. USP lead regional, national and community meetings to entertain views on how civil society could best be supported to carry out biodiversity conservation. Its report was presented to the heads of the above organizations in December, 2012 and was very positively received; US$9 million was allocated to carry out the suggested investment strategy.
Potential New Species of Aquatic Gastropods
Three potentially new species of aquatic gastropods in the genus Fluviopupa (Family Taetidae) were collected during a biodiversity assessment of streams in Emalu, in the province of Nadroga-Navosa. The collections were made by MSc student Bindiya Rashni. Preliminary identification work suggests that these could be three species new to science and endemic to Fiji. Bindiya also carried out freshwater macroinvertebrate surveys in Kadavu which yielded a larval specimen from the family of aquatic insects known as Crambidae, which were previously unrecorded in Fiji. The larva is yet to be identified to genus or species level, but preliminary analysis reveals a relationship with members of the genus Hygraula, which is found in New Zealand.Three potentially new species of aquatic gastropods in the genus Fluviopupa (Family Taetidae) were collected during a biodiversity assessment of streams in Emalu, in the province of Nadroga-Navosa. The collections were made by MSc student Bindiya Rashni. Preliminary identification work suggests that these could be three species new to science and endemic to Fiji. Bindiya also carried out freshwater macroinvertebrate surveys in Kadavu which yielded a larval specimen from the family of aquatic insects known as Crambidae, which were previously unrecorded in Fiji. The larva is yet to be identified to genus or species level, but preliminary analysis reveals a relationship with members of the genus Hygraula, which is found in New Zealand.
2011
Botanical Assessment
The highlight of a recent rapid botanical assessment survey to Kadavu island by the herbarium team, resulted in the discovery of a potentially new and unique species of Medinilla sp. (plant related to the tagimoucia) that has white flowers. The plant specimen collected from this species is currently being taxonomically assessed.
Southern Lau Expedition
As part of the baseline survey of the Southern Lau group for terrestrial and marine resources, with various government ministries and NGOs, the herbarium provided financial support and expertise in the fields of plant and vegetation ecology, mammology and entomology.
External links:
http://www.conservation.org/publications/Documents/lessonsLearned/CI_CEPF_Biodiversity_Conservation_Lessons-22-Southern-Lau.pdf
http://www.cepf.net/SiteCollectionDocuments/poly_micro/FinalCompletionReport_USP_RapidBiologicalAssessmentSurveySouthernLauFiji.pdf
Biodiversity Studies of Fiji Cryptogams & Pteridophytes
An international team of collaborators, led by Dr. Matt von Konrat of Chicago’s Field Museum, together with a team from the South Pacific Regional Herbarium, spent four weeks carrying out field work on Viti Levu and Kadavu, collecting bryophytes, lichens and ferns. The bryophytes and lichens, which are poorly known from Fiji and the tropical Pacific region, were the main focus of this expedition. Documenting the diversity and distribution of these tiny plants is vital for our understanding of their ecological significance, including their potential to act as indicators of climate change.
External links:
https://www.fieldmuseum.org/science/blog/video-botanical-exploration-fiji
https://www.fieldmuseum.org/biodiversity-studies-fiji-cryptogams-ferns-bryophytes-and-lichens
http://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2011/09/19/ferning-in-fiji/
http://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2011/09/20/up-the-volcano-fiji-ferns-ii/
2010
Conservation International (CI)
The Herbarium staff have received funding from Conservation International (CI) to undertake studies on the biodiversity of Fiji’s montane rain forest and to study the conservation of two endangered butterflies in Fiji.
Lau Biodiversity Survey : CI/USP
Another grant from CI helped support a biodiversity survey of Southern Lau in Fiji. The Lau group are an outer island group of Fiji far from the capital and the most recent biodiversity study had been undertaken in 1924. In 2007 a survey was done of the northern Lau islands and in 2009 central Lau. These surveys involve about twenty scientists who live aboard a research vessel for one month as it moves among the small islands. Hundreds of new species not previously known to exist in the Lau group have been documented and priority areas for conservation identified. Marine samples were also collected for drug discovery work.
2009
Darwin Initiative project: 'Focus on Fiji: Insect Inventories for Biodiversity Assessment
IAS also has two major projects funded by the UK-based Darwin Initiative. Under one several people are being trained in entomology and insect collections have been made in ten locations. Under work on the second project a Postgraduate Diploma in protected area management has been developed and the year-long Pacific Island Community-based Conservation Course was offered for the fifth time for sixteen Pacific islanders in 2009.
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© Copyright 1968 - 2019. All Rights Reserved. Page updated: Friday, January 25, 2019 |
Institute of Applied Science Faculty of Science and Technology Private Bag, Laucala Campus, Suva, Fiji. Tel: (+679) 323 2965 Fax: (+679) 323 1534 |
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