Abstract:
Remote areas offer sites which can indicate local scale disturbance, and others where changes can only be associated with alterations in the global marine environment. Research in isolated areas can be logistically challenging, therefore, remote locations generally go unstudied. One such place is the Lau archipelago of Fiji, where healthy terrestrial and marine ecosystems are critical in sustaining local communities. Communities of Lau have expressed concerns over environmental change, noticing an increase in the degradation of fringing reefs. Stakeholders and community members have become concerned with the reported increase in marine algae growth, and potential adverse agricultural impacts. This forms an opportunity to investigate land use regimes, discharge and ecological compositions as a measure of anthropogenic impact on a remote island in the South Pacific. This study explores Moala Island in Lau, obtaining and analysing baseline information on nutrient levels in fresh water and marine habitats, and investigates the ecological status of Moala lagoon. The study shows elevated fresh water nutrient concentrations, although marine systems seem to be managing current terrestrial inputs. It was confirmed greater abundances of macroalgae occur on Moala's fringing reefs, and confounding results indicate wave exposure and fishing pressure are inversely related. Thus, the study examined a relevant trophic cascade of species further providing an insight into ecosystem functioning against anthropogenic pressure. Marine protected area's displayed higher species abundance and biomass, indicating the ecosystems positive response to protection. Multivariate techniques such as principal component analysis, clustering methods and sequential T- test analysis were applied to detect similarities between Moala's ecological status, and the wider Fiji region. This work has extended research into the environmental health of Moala Island by combining a number of known analytical methodologies in a novel manner. Furthermore, recommendations have been put forward which are aligned with conservation targets proposed in the newly ratified Lau Seascape Management Plan (2018-2038).