Catalogue of the marine benthic macroalgae of the Fiji Islands, South Pacific

Abstract

A catalogue of the marine benthic macroalgae of Fiji is provided. All records are fully referenced, and type localities and local distributions (accompanied by listings of voucher specimens) are provided. Taxonomic notes are also included where appropriate. Records from SUVA-A, UC and BISH examined by the authors, together with updates from recent publications, form the substance of the report. A total of 448 taxa are included, comprising 136 Chlorophyta, 46 Phaeophyta and 266 Rhodophyta. This represents an increase of 116 new records since 1996, of which 39 are newly reported by the authors, and the remainder are recently published records from the Suva Lagoon (29) and the Great Astrolabe Reef and Lagoon (48). Also included are a total of 36 nomenclatural changes made since 1996, a compilation of 33 uncertain records, and a list of 34 species with type localities in Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. Apart from the far more extensive region of Micronesia, the flora of Fiji is the richest in the south and central Pacific Islands.