Species diversity, composition and the regeneration potential of native plants at the Wainiveiota mahogany plantation, Viti Levu, Fiji Islands

Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King) plantations cover a considerable area on the south-eastern parts of Viti Levu, Fiji. The understorey of these plantations often comprise a diverse, but undocumented, assemblage of native plant species. This study investigates the diversity, composition and regeneration potential of native plant species in the Wainiveiota mahogany plantation 40-50 years after establishment. Ten 10 m x 10 m plots were alternately placed at 10 m intervals perpendicular to a 200 m line transect. A total of 491 individual plants with dbh ≥ 1 cm, comprising 69 species, 51 genera and 34 families, were sampled. In addition to the exotic mahogany, there were 68 native (39 endemic, 24 indigenous and 5 identified to genus only) species recorded. Girronniera celtidifolia Gaud., Dillenia biflora (A.Gray) Martelli ex Dur. & Jacks and Barringtonia edulis Seem. had the highest recruitment and Endospermum macrophyllum (Muell.Arg.) Pax & Hoffm. was the dominant native species. Syzygium Gaertn. (Myrtaceae) was the most diverse genus and Myrtaceae the most diverse family. With 98% of the sapling recruitment consisting of native species, there is potential for re-establishment of a lowland rainforest dominated by native species over time

Unlocking collections: New records of Lepidoziaceae (Marchantiophyta) for the islands of Fiji

It is clearly evident that the bryophyte flora of the islands of Fiji remains inadequately documented. Here, five liverwort species of Lepidoziaceae are reported as new to the Republic of Fiji: Lepidozia haskarliana, Neolepidozia cuneifolia, N. wallichiana, Telaranea major and Tricholepidozia melanesica