The Fiji Terrestrial Arthropod Survey
The NSF-funded Fiji Terrestrial Arthropod Survey is designed to: 1) survey, identify, and describe new taxa from selected terrestrial arthropod taxa throughout the Fiji Archipelago; 2) produce a checklist of Fijian terrestrial arthropods, an associated bibliography, and database of specimens collected and identified; and 3) provide in-country training and taxonomic capacity building in support of this and other projects. So far more than 700,000 specimens of terrestrial arthropods have been collected, primarily through an extensive trapping program at 120 different sites on 12 islands. Of the specimens collected, almost 200,000 have been sorted to target groups, databased and sent to over 50 specialists in 10 countries for identification and publication of new taxa discovered. The data gathered from the Fijian arthropod fauna suggest that Fiji is both a center of endemicity and a biotic source area for eastern Polynesia and much of Micronesia. Training of local parataxonomists has focused on collecting and sorting trap samples, with basic insect taxonomy to aid sorters in recognizing target taxa. The FAS has worked closely with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Suva Office, a collaboration that has facilitated liaison with government officials for permits, and with villagers for permission to collect on their land. Also, a program by WCS encouraging villagers to set aside parcels of native forest for conservation purposes will be expanded to include information on native arthropods and their ecological importance. [http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/fiji]