RAPID BIODIVERSITY ASSESSMENT OF THE VAVA´U ARCHIPELAGO, KINGDOM OF TONGA FEBRUARY 2014 NAOERO GO T D'S W I LL FIRS SPREP Library/IRC Cataloguing-in-Publication Data Rapid Biodiversity Assessment of the Vava’u Archipelago, Kingdom of Tonga. SPREP. Apia, Samoa / J. N. Atherton, S.A. McKenna, A. Wheatley. – Apia, Samoa : SPREP, 2015. 312p. cm. ISBN: 978-982-04-0528-8 (print) 978-982-04-529-5 (e-copy) 1. Biodiversity conservation – Vava’u. 2. Biodiversity – Assessment – Vava’u. 3. Natural resources conservation areas – Vava’u. I. Atherton, James N. II. McKenna, Sheila A. III. Wheatley, Amanda. IV. Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) V. Title. 333.959685 © SPREP 2015 Cover photos: Main photo: Vava’u island group from the air (Stuart Chape). Inset photos (left to right): Tongan whistler (Meghan Kelly); the rare coral Echinomorpha nishihirai (Douglas Fenner); Vava’u islands (Stuart Chape). All rights for commercial / for profit reproduction or translation, in any form, reserved. SPREP authorises the partial reproduction or translation of this material for scientific, educational or research purposes, provided that SPREP and the source document are properly acknowledged. Permission to reproduce the document and / or translate in whole, in any form, whether for commercial / for profit or non-profit purposes, must be requested in writing. Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme P. O. Box 240, Apia, Samoa. Telephone: + 685 21929, Fax: + 685 20231 www. sprep. org The Pacific environment, sustaining our livelihoods and natural heritage in harmony with our cultures. RAPID BIODIVERSITY ASSESSMENT OF THE VAVA´U ARCHIPELAGO, KINGDOM OF TONGA 2014 J.N. ATHERTON, S.A. MCKENNA AND A. WHEATLEY CONTENTS Organisational Profiles ii Authors iv Acknowledgements v Foreword vi Executive summary vii CHAPTERS Chapter 1. Introduction 1 Chapter 2. Plants of Vava’u 9 Chapter 3. Reptiles of Vava’u 31 Chapter 4. Birds and Bats of Vava’u 43 Chapter 5. Moths, butterflies, ants and dragonflies of Vava’u 65 Chapter 6. Land snails of Vava’u 79 Chapter 7. Stony reef corals of Vava’u 93 Chapter 8. Marine macro invertebrates of Vava’u 109 Chapter 9. Coral reef fish of Vava’u 127 Chapter 10. Targeted fish of Vava’u 145 Chapter 11. Reef condition of Vava’u 179 Chapter 12. Cetaceans and marine turtles of Vava’u 193 Chapter 13. Conservation recommendations and conclusions 211 ANNEXES 221 Annex 2.1. Information on sites visited by the botanical team for the Vava’u BIORAP, February 2014 223 Annex 2.2. Vegetation plot data 224 Annex 2.3. Comprehensive list of the flora of Vava’u 229 Annex 3.1. Results of the Vava’u reptile survey 243 Annex 5.1. Results of the Vava’u invertebrate survey 249 Annex 6.1. Sites surveyed for land snails 269 Annex 6.2. Distributions of land snail species at the sites surveyed on Vava’u in February 2014 270 Annex 7.1. Coral species recorded in Vava’u, Tonga, during the BIORAP survey 271 Annex 8.1. List of macroinvertebrate species observed in Vava’u, Tonga, during BIORAP survey 277 Annex 9.1. Complete list of reef-associated fish species recorded during the BIORAP survey of the Vava’u archipelago 281 Annex 9.2. Number of reef fish species observed per family during the BIORAP survey of the Vava’u Archipelago 283 Annex 10.1. Number of individuals, mean density, mean biomass, and mean and maximum fork length for all fish species recorded in the 2014 Vava’u BIORAP 285 Annex 13.1 Overview of coral reef sites surveyed and associated species richness, reef health and fish biomass 291 CONTENTS Organisational Profiles ii Authors iv Acknowledgements v Foreword vi Executive summary vii CHAPTERS Chapter 1. Introduction 1 Chapter 2. Plants of Vava’u 9 Chapter 3. Reptiles of Vava’u 31 Chapter 4. Birds and Bats of Vava’u 43 Chapter 5. Moths, butterflies, ants and dragonflies of Vava’u 65 Chapter 6. Land snails of Vava’u 79 Chapter 7. Stony reef corals of Vava’u 93 Chapter 8. Marine macro invertebrates of Vava’u 109 Chapter 9. Coral reef fish of Vava’u 127 Chapter 10. Targeted fish of Vava’u 145 Chapter 11. Reef condition of Vava’u 179 Chapter 12. Cetaceans and marine turtles of Vava’u 193 Chapter 13. Conservation recommendations and conclusions 211 ANNEXES 221 Annex 2.1. Information on sites visited by the botanical team for the Vava’u BIORAP, February 2014 223 Annex 2.2. Vegetation plot data 224 Annex 2.3. Comprehensive list of the flora of Vava’u 229 Annex 3.1. Results of the Vava’u reptile survey 243 Annex 5.1. Results of the Vava’u invertebrate survey 249 Annex 6.1. Sites surveyed for land snails 269 Annex 6.2. Distributions of land snail species at the sites surveyed on Vava’u in February 2014 270 Annex 7.1. Coral species recorded in Vava’u, Tonga, during the BIORAP survey 271 Annex 8.1. List of macroinvertebrate species observed in Vava’u, Tonga, during BIORAP survey 277 Annex 9.1. Complete list of reef-associated fish species recorded during the BIORAP survey of the Vava’u archipelago 281 Annex 9.2. Number of reef fish species observed per family during the BIORAP survey of the Vava’u Archipelago 283 Annex 10.1. Number of individuals, mean density, mean biomass, and mean and maximum fork length for all fish species recorded in the 2014 Vava’u BIORAP 285 Annex 13.1 Overview of coral reef sites surveyed and associated species richness, reef health and fish biomass 291 ORGANISATIONAL PROFILES BIRDLIFE INTERNATIONAL NEW ZEALAND DEPARTMENT OF PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP CONSERVATION (DOC) The New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC) BirdLife International is a global network of 117 national works nationally conserving natural and historic heritage NGOs (partners) − including seven in the Pacific − whose and recreational opportunities on public conservation mission is “to conserve wild birds, their habitats and global lands including national parks, world heritage areas, biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in much mountain land and many islands along with some the use of natural resources”. marine protected areas. The department has an official The BirdLife Partnership is supported by a Secretariat with role advocating protection of wildlife including birds and headquarters in Cambridge, UK. A regional supporting freshwater and marine life. Active Maori relationships Secretariat for the Pacific Partnership is based in Fiji. with natural heritage are respected under the principles BirdLife’s Pacific partners are in Australia, the Cook Islands, of the Treaty of Waitangi. The department partners many Fiji, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand and agencies and organisations in its work and provides Palau. some capacity to cooperate internationally in work such as pest eradication from islands and technical support For more information visit: www. birdlife. org for conservation management such as this biodiversity assessment of Vava’u. MINISTRY OF METEOROLOGY, ENERGY, INFORMATION, DISASTER MANAGEMENT, For more information visit: www. doc. govt. nz/ ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND SECRETARIAT OF THE PACIFIC REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME (SPREP) The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment The Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Programme (SPREP) has been charged by the Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change governments and administrations of the Pacific region and Communications (MEIDECC)’s goals are to achieve with the protection and sustainable development of the best practices and ensure a well-informed public in the region’s environment. SPREP is based in Apia, Samoa, management of lands, natural resources, ecosystems, and with over 90 staff. climate change for sustainable development, and a climate SPREP’s activities are guided by its Strategic Action Plan resilient Tonga through effective planning, coordination 2011−2015, which was developed through extensive and monitoring in partnership with relevant stakeholders. consultations with members, Secretariat staff and partner MEIDECC is the Tongan Government’s newest ministry, organisations. The plan establishes four strategic priorities, established on 1 July 2014. The new ministry brings together which form the basis and focus of SPREP’s work: Climate the Departments of Environment, Energy, Climate Change, change; Biodiversity and ecosystem management; Waste Disaster National Emergency Management Office (NEMO), management and pollution control; and Environmental Meteorology, and Information and Communications, monitoring and governance. SPREP is actively engaged which were formerly under three different ministries. The as a partner in many environmental management and ministry is committed to ensure the protection and proper conservation projects in the region such as this biodiversity management of the environment and the promotion of assessment of Vava’u, as well as similar assessments done sustainable development for Tonga’s present and future in upland Savaii (2012) and Nauru (2013). generations. For more information visit: www. sprep. org/ For more information visit: www. ecc. gov. to ii Rapid Biodiversity Assessment of the Vava’u Archipelago, Kingdom of Tonga UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY VAVA’U ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (USGS) AGENCY The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is a science organisation that provides impartial information on the health of our ecosystems and environment, the natural The Vava’u Environmental Protection Association (VEPA) is hazards that threaten us, the natural resources we rely a Vava’u based NGO actively engaged in the conservation on, the impacts of climate and land-use change, and of Vava’u’s natural resources. VEPA was incorporated as a the core science systems that help us provide timely, national society in the Kingdom of Tonga in January of relevant, and useable information. 2010 and is governed by a local board. As the United States’ largest water, earth, and biological VEPA’s programmes are run in accordance with our science and civilian mapping agency, the USGS collects, Strategic Action Plan 2012−2017, with an annual activities monitors, analyses, and provides scientific understanding plan coordinating projects under our three defined about natural resource conditions, issues and problems.