EFFECT OF CATCHMENT FOREST COVER ON MACROINVERTEBRATE COMMUNITY STRUCTURE IN STREAMS OF FIJI by Bindiya Rashni Cover photo: Acochlidium fijiense (Haynes & Kenchington, 1991), the endemic and threatened shell-less aquatic gastropod found in Vucinivola stream, Nakorotubu district of Ra, Viti Levu. A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science of Marine Science Copyright © 2014 by Bindiya Rashni School of Marine Studies Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment The University of the South Pacific July, 2014 DEDICATION To my dearest parents (my dad, Late Mr. Sathanand and my mum, Manjula Wati) & My siblings Shyam Sajay Nand, Reshmi Sudha Nandni and Ambika Nand for their love and continuous support ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS “Every creation of God has a message for the human beings who were made in his image” Late Mr. Sathanand (my dad) & his words are verified by the holy Bhagavad Gita “As rivers flow into the ocean but cannot make the vast ocean overflow, so flow the streams of the sense-world into the sea of peace” Bhagavad-Gita 2:70 I had just graduated with a Bachelors degree in Marine Science (BScMS) in 2009 and was in a dilemma of whether to work or get enrolled in a postgraduate program. As usual, I prayed to almighty God and asked for guidance. Out of the blue, I received an e-mail from Dr. Susanne Pohler saying that a man named Prof. William Aalbersberg from the Institute of Applied Science (IAS) wanted to talk to me. Surprisingly, during the three years at Marine Campus, I was not aware that IAS existed in the same campus and that Prof. Aalbersberg was the director of IAS. I clearly remember the first time I met Prof. Aalbersberg. I entered the main IAS office and introduced myself to him. While discussing about my employment at IAS, he bent down slightly and picked up something from the floor next to my feet. I thought he had dropped some valuable of his but it was just two pieces of crumpled paper probably left around carelessly by someone. I felt a bit embarrassed for having younger eyes and not noticing it but that day, I did witness the action behind one of the wise quotes by Mahatma Gandhi “be the change you wish to see in this world”. As I walked out of the IAS office, I was content I came to the right place and my journey here would be a productive and memorable one. First and foremost I would like to thank all the lecturers (late Mr. Johnson Seeto, Dr. Susanne Pohler, Dr. Vina Ram Bidesi and Dr. Milika Naqasima-Sobey) who voted for me during the IAS meeting for selection of an Indo-Fijian student to expand FLMMA iii work in the Indo-Fijian community of Korolevu-i-wai district. This has been a great learning experience. To my supervisory team, Prof. Aalbersberg, Dr. Alison Haynes, James Comley, Marika Tuiwawa and Dr. Brodie, thank you very much for your guidance, assistance and support throughout my MSc journey. To Prof. Aalbersberg, sir I am highly grateful for the graduate assistantship opportunity with IAS and allowing me to work with two units, the Environment Unit and the South Pacific Regional Herbarium. If it wasn’t for this GAship offer, I would have never discovered my passion for freshwater macroinvertebrate taxonomy. Special thanks for trusting me with an entire new field and providing a research topic despite my marine background. To Dr. Haynes, I salute you for the immense freshwater macroinvertebrate work that you have done locally and regionally. You have laid a strong foundation for these challenging little critters that reflect valuable message for the people of Oceania. Thank you so much for lending me your doctrines of freshwater macroinvertebrates. Being your apprentice was a wonderful experience. Like I always say, working with you in lab is like working with a living legend. Thank you also for your comments on my results and discussion chapters. To James Comley, hats off to you the GIS and Stats guru for IAS, special thanks for taking out time from your daily work schedule as well as weekends to assist me with Permanova analysis. Thank you for continuously believing in me and monitoring my progress as well as reviewing my chapter drafts. To Dr. Sarah Pene, my life guard, special thanks for reviewing all my chapters and making sense out of my crappy paragraphs. Thanks heaps for the words of encouragement and support and keeping me interested in my thesis. As the Lao Tzu saying goes “nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished”, huge thanks to the father of Herbarium, Mr. Marika Tuiwawa and my Herbarium family (Alivereti Naikatini, Dr. Sarah Pene, Manoa Maiwaqa, Lekima Copeland, Tokasaya Cakacaka, Apaitia Liga, Hilda Waqa-Sakiti, Mereia Katafono and Siteri Tikoca) for a wonderful journey to some of the most heavenly places in mountainous terrains of Fiji. iv The five year field experience has been a blessing indeed and molded me into a wiser and better researcher. Biodiversity team, you rock. To my field mate and brother, Lekima Copeland, special thanks for taking care of me during all the field trips. To my Environment Unit family (Dr. Bale Tamata, Alifereti Tawake, Ron Vave, Semisi Meo, Rusiate Ratuniata, Ron Simpson, Hans Karl Wendt, Laitia Tamata, Joji Sivo, Fulori Nainoca, Leigh-Anne Buliruarua, Albert Whippy and Tomasi Delana) huge thanks for the support and encouragement all the way. To Isimeli Logan, huge thanks for assisting me during my field work in Kadavu and being my older brother. To Hans Karl Wendt, thank you so much for such awesome study site maps. To Apisai Bogiva, Laitia and Hans and Rusiate, my brotherly circle, thank you for taking care of me and all your advices during the challenging times. This journey would have been tougher without you guys. To the IAS administration team, Aisha Khan, Rina Segran, Reshma Prasad and Loata Qorovarua, thanks heaps for your assistance with administration of my research vote code. To our creative graphic artist, Mere Brown, special thanks for assisting with the poster design for my thesis research work. To the analytical and microbiology team of IAS, huge thanks for analyzing and providing data for my field site water samples. Your assistance is highly appreciated. My sincere thanks to the Institute of Applied Science for funding this research. Huge thanks to the Ra Provincial Office for allowing me to carry out my field work in Nakorotubu district. To the people of Naocobau, Saioko and Nabukadra villages, huge thanks for your hospitality and support. Special thanks to my field assistants, Josua Vunivesi, Samu Bale, Apenisa dau, Rai Malani and Laisiasa Cava. My sincere gratitude to Jona Nacayatani and Laisiasa for driving us to and from the study sites. Thanks for safe driving. Also thanks to Samu Copeland and Pita Koroi for all the laughter and fun despite the tiring hike. Huge thanks to the Kadavu Provincial Office for allowing me to carry out my field work in Nakasaleka district. To the Tui Nakasa, my deepest appreciation for your v support throughout my stay in the Nakasaleka district. To the people of the following villages of Nakasaleka, Kavala bay, Namajiu, Lomanikoro and Nakaugasele, huge thanks for your hospitality and support. To my special field troop ( Ratu Rabici, Radike Isoa,Tomasi Peckham, Jone Bulawa, Martin Liwaliwa, Vilikesa Bulewa, Wani Seru, Jovesa Rokona, Isoa Coalala, Apakuki Soata, Manoa Meli and Mosese Bete), thank you for such a fun-filled field work. Also thanks you for your assistance with carrying my field gears. To the marine studies team at the University of the South Pacific, Shiv Sharma and Jone Lima, thanks heaps for your assistance with the laboratory equipments during the four horrific taxonomy months. To the late Mr. Johnson Seeto, special thanks for your guidance and support as well as for your assistance with identification of some crustaceans. To my genius and lovely crustacean specialist, Ms Laura Williams, special thanks for your brains on the confusing shrimp identification. To my CRISP room friends, (Epeli Loganimoce, Kelly Thomas Brown, Jerome Taoi and John Kaituu’, thanks for allowing me to crash at your desks, when I needed a change in write-up space. Also thanks for all the fun and laughter with your paddling team. To our genius Monal Lal, my life saver, special thanks for sending over all the journal articles on time for without it, I would not have achieved my discussion chapter and thesis submission deadline. To Yashika Nand, special thanks for helping me with fine-tuning my study conceptual model. Your assistance is highly appreciated. Special thanks to Dr. Satish Choy, Prof. Stuart Bunn, Dr. Martin Haase and Prof. Peter Lin for e-mailing me their publications on freshwater ecology. Your assistance is highly appreciated. To the late Dr. Stephen Moore, special thanks for your assistance with macroinvertebrate specimen identification. To Mr. Nick Carter, my friend and mentor, huge thanks for your support and guidance during the process of my thesis data analysis. Thanks also for the writing tips and the journal articles. To Mr. Karuna Reddy, the statistician at USP research office thanks heaps for assisting me understanding of statistical functions and applications. To my friends abroad, Brian Weeks and Qistina Azman and Setoki Tuiteci, thanks for your well wishes and the quick responses in e- vi mailing journal articles. To my freshwater macroinvertebrate taxonomy buddy, Ilaitia Finau, thanks for my first exposure to invertebrate sampling in Savura creek. To my seven comrades-in-arms of the MSc troop, Valerie Waqanivavalagi, Payal Maharaj, Siteri Tikoca, Mereia Katafono, Surava Elaisa, Sharon Raj and Ahilya Singh, my deepest thanks for keeping me sane, for all the fun and laughter, for support and encouragement and making sure that I didn’t turn into a lab geek.