Analysis of Trans fatty acid in Fiji foods by Fourier transform Infrared Technology
This research aims to validate an analytical method for the determination of trans-fatty acids in food and food products and estimate per-capita consumption of trans-fatty acids in Fiji.
Monitoring for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Fiji’s environment
Recently there has been a global concern on Persistent organic pollutants due to its negative effects on environment and human health. Despite this, very little scientific data exists from small island developing states (SIDs). Project POPS is about an investigation into a toxic cocktail of POPs chemicals that poses a threat to human population and our environment.
Determining folate content in some Fijian foods.
Folate is the general name given to this group of water-soluble B9 vitamins that perform similar tasks but differ from each other in their structure. Folate derivatives play very important roles in the body. It’s most important role is as carriers for one –carbon units required for important metabolic pathways. Folate is also involved in the synthesis of RNA and DNA.
Analysis of foliates in foods by microbiological assay.
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Salmonella in eggs and chicken
No description provided.
Determination of Niacin using colorimetric and HPLC method in some selected Pacific Island foods.
No description provided.
Human mercury exposure in relation to fish consumption in Fiji.
No description provided.
Determination of trends in the ambient air Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) concentrations in the Pacific Islands Region using polyurethane foam based passive air samplers.
The project involves the use and application of polyurethane foam disks (PUFs) as an air filter in the determination of the concentrations of POPs in ambient air. Emphasis is placed on the evaluation of the impact of the local primary point sources, secondary and diffusive sources as well as the long range transport (LRT) of these organic compounds.
Levels of persistent organic pollutants and 2,2,4,4,- tetrabromodiphenylether (PBDE No. 47) in freshwater mussels (Batissa violacea) (kai) in Fiji Rivers and seawater shellfish Anadara antiquata (kaikoso) in Fiji coastal waters.
The research project involves a detailed investigation on the contamination of rivers and coastal waters of Fiji of POPs and PBDEs by the use of freshwater mussels and seawater shellfish as bio-indicators. These mussels and shellfish were chosen as bio-indicators since these were valuable daily food for coastal.rivers-side dwellers and also a major source of daily earnings for most Fiji families.
Assessing the Secondary Metabolites and Drug potential of a red-pigmented Bacterium isolated from a Fijian Marine Alga.
Pigmented bacteria have been shown to produce an array of secondary metabolites with a wide range of applications. From pharmaceuticals to cosmetics to industrial and to food additives, a multitude of compounds from bacterial sources has contributed to the extension of human life....
Isolation of bioactive products from sponge associated bacteria belonging to the genus Pseudoalteromonas
This report contains the first bio-activity results of 5-deoxyenterocin to be recorded and the first bio-activity results of vulgamycin in brine shrimp assay to be reported.
The Analysis of the Antibiotic Activities of Salinispora Strains from Marine Sediment as a Guide to New Phylogenetic and Chemical Diversity.
The Actinomycete group of bacteria are known to produce antitumor, immune suppressive agents and enzymes (Lam, 2006) and also antibiotic compounds. The genus Salinispora belonging to the actinomycete family Micromonosporaceae, has been found to contain highly potent anticancer compounds, an example of which is Salinisporamide A produced by S. Tropica currently in stage II clinical trials. Only 3 species have been found so far namely S. tropica, S. arenicola and S. pacifica, with each of them producing distinctive compounds. Thus, hypothetically one could discover new Salinispora species by looking for strains that make new metabolites at the Salinispora genus level.
Isolation and characterization of bioactive components of the marine sponge, Theonella.
research project aims at finding bioactive compounds from a marine sponge, family Halichondriidae. This involves extraction/isolation, purification and structure elucidation of the bioactive compound(s).
Isolation and characterization of bioactive compounds from marine actinomycetes
Marine- derived natural products are a rich source of potential new antibiotics and anticancer agents. Actinomycetes (order: Actinomycetales) are a best known source of antibiotics and account for almost 70% of the worlds naturally occurring antibiotics. Marine actinomycetes can be isolated from sediments around the Fiji waters.
Isolation and characterization of the cytotoxic components of the marine sponge, Rhaphoxya sp.
research project deals with the isolation and characterization of the cytotoxic components of the marine sponge, Rhaphoxya sp. It involves bioassay guided fractionation where multiple separation methods coupled with Brine Shrimp, Artemia salina, Assay at each step, leading to the isolation of active compound(s).
The Isolation and Biosynthesis of Bengamides in the Marine Sponge of the Genus Jaspis
The bengamide group of compounds is potent and specific inhibitors of methionine aminopeptidase – an enzyme that plays an important role in the development of cancer.
Isolation of biologically active compounds from two sponges of the order Dictyoceratida
No description provided
Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic compounds from marine obligate actionomycte, Salinispara spp.
No description provided
Isolation and Characterisation of Antibacterial Compounds from Marine Sponge Suburea Clavata
No description provided.
Extraction and bioactivity testing of compounds from the marine actinomycete Genus Salinispora
No description provided
Reassessment of the flora and vegetation along an altitudinal transect on the slope of Mt Korobaba, Rewa Province, Fiji
The study surveyed the flora of Mt. Korobaba along an altitudinal gradient using a selective sampling method, approximately relocating altitudinal sampling plots from a similar study approximately 30 years earlier by Kirkpatrick & Hassall.
Trunk-inhabiting bryophyte diversity on two common native trees along an altitudinal gradient on Viti Levu, Fiji.
Fiji has a rich biodiversity in tropical wet forests on high oceanic islands in the Pacific. This rich and distinct biodiversity includes the mosses, liverworts and hornworts, collectively known as bryophytes. This research focused on the ecology of bryophytes on the lower trunks of two host tree species and is the first of its kind for Fiji.
Effect of catchment forest cover on macroinvertebrate community structure in Streams of Fiji
This research aimed at investigating the health of streams draining catchments with varying percentage forest cover in order to better understand the effect that the alteration of catchment forest cover has on the stream macroinvertebrate fauna.
Seasonality, habitats and micro-habitats of fishes in small to medium size streams in Nakorotubu, Ra, Fiji.
Research on the abiotic and biotic factors affecting fish in both large rivers and wadable streams in Fiji is scarce. This project analyses several mechanisms affecting the abundance, diversity and community structure of fish in wadable streams of Nakorotubu district, on the island of Viti Levu, Fiji.
Diversity and community structure of macro-moths (Lepidoptera) in lowland forest habitats on Viti Levu, Fiji.
The Fiji Islands are a biodiversity hotspot with a large proportion of their flora and fauna being endemic. Over the last 200 years since the colonial era taxonomic studies have been conducted and a relatively large proportion of the country’s biodiversity has been documented. However, more detailed information on distribution and population structure of some taxa remains virtually unknown.
Distribution and abundance of the Fijian ground frog (Platymantis vitianus) and the cane toad (Chaunus [Bufo] marinus) on Viwa Island, Tailevu, Fiji.
The cane toad, Bufo marinus, was introduced to the Fiji Islands by the Fiji Agriculture Department in 1936 as a biological control agent. Although extirpations of the endemic Fiji Ground Frog (FGF) have been attributed to the introduced small Indian mongoose (Herpestes javanicus eradication project, therefore the results of this study will provide valuable baseline information on areas to target for cane toad removal and ) the cane toad (CT) has also recently been proposed as a potential agent of decline.
Diversity distribution and abundance of Fijian freshwater fish
One of the poorly known aspects of the biodiversity of the Fijian Islands is the biodiversity of freshwater fauna. Data collected from this study were used to compile a checklist of Fijian freshwater and estuarine fish, determine the physical habitat factors influencing richness and abundance and identify biogeographic patterns including fish communities and assemblages found in different regions and habitat.
Conservation, management and ethnobotany of Sago (Metroxylon vitiense) in South-East Viti Levu, Fiji Islands
Metroxylon vitiense is an endemic palm currently listed as Vulnerable by IUCN. Once widespread throughout the main island of Viti Levu, Fiji, it is now restricted to seven populations on the southeastern part of Viti Levu.
Monitoring comparative spatial and temporal variation in the land-birds of Vago-Savura Forest Reserve, a native lowland rainforest in south east Viti Levu, Fiji.
Birds are an important indicator species and part of Fiji’s Natural Heritage. As most bird surveys conducted in Fiji to date were qualitative, very little is known about the ecology, population abundance and seasonality of many of Fiji’s land birds. The purpose of this study was to identify a pattern of seasonality in the detected abundance of the native land birds in the Vago-Savura Forest Reserve.
Taxonomy, host-selection, biogeography and species distribution modelling of the Fijian long-horned beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)
Long-horn beetles (Family: Cerambycidae) in Fiji includes 124 described species within 45 genera of which 110 (88.7%) are considered endemic. Cerambycids serve as pollinators and decomposers and are considered important providers of ecological services. The family also contains an iconic Fijian species – the giant long-horned beetle Xixuthrus heros Heer 1868, one of the largest beetles in the world and a cultural totem for the chiefly clan of the Namosi Province.
Taxonomy, diversity and distribution of canopy Coleoptera (Beetles) along elevational gradients on Eastern Viti Levu, Fiji.
Ecological gradients (e.g. habitat types, climate, altitude, seasonality etc.) are known to be important factors in regulating the diversity and distribution of insect taxa. Knowledge of their distribution patterns is essential for proper conservation measures to be implemented. In Fiji, virtually no studies of this type have been done. In this study, canopy coleopteran communities were surveyed along a landscape transect on selected undisturbed rainforest areas in eastern Viti Levu, Fiji from lowland Nakobalevu (200m) through upland Waisoi to a cloud montane forest in Monasavu (1000m).
Growth and morphology of local sea grapes (Caulerpa spp.) in Fiji.
Scientific research plays a crucial role in the development of seaweed harvesting, cultivation, processing and utilization. There is a clear and ongoing need for research and development to enable an economically and environmentally sustainable seaweed industry in the Pacific, including Fiji.
Village Governance in relation to Coastal Resource Management in Fiji - a Case study of Namada Village in Korolevu-i-wai (Nadroga) and Navukailagi village (Gau)
All Pacific Island countries (PICs) have dual legal system which is the traditional and modern law. Laws based on traditions and customs were usually verbally passed down through generations, and varied significantly from community to community within countries.
The impact of live rock harvesting on fish abundance, substrate composition, and reef topography along the Coral coast, Fiji
The lucrative live rock trade, of which Fiji is the major exporter, has raised concerns on sustainability and ecological impacts. This study is the first to quantify the ecological impacts of live rock removal.
Assesssing the reliability of community indicator species as a means of measuring MPA effectiveness.
An investigation of the chemistry of the Fiji marine invertebrates yielded new natural products and interesting changes in the production of the metabolites.
Effects before and after closure of a marine protected area: Case study of Navakavu, Suva, Fiji Islands
Marine protected areas (MPAs) or tabu are increasingly used as a tool to manage coastal ecosystems and fisheries. The assessment of their performance with respect to management is therefore important.
Coastal processes affecting beach erosion; a case study of Votua village in Sigatoka on the Coral coast, Fiji Islands.
The purpose of this research was to assess beach erosion at the village of Votua along the Coral Coast of Viti Levu in the Fiji Islands. The history of coastline change (1967 to 2000) was determined using the GIS MapInfo software and historic information obtained from the community.
The Application of Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems to Change Detection for Integrated Coastal Management.
The coastal zone of the South Pacific Islands represents varied and highly productive ecosystems such as mangroves, coral reefs and sea grasses. It is necessary to protect these coastal ecosystems to ensure sustainable development because they are found to be mostly degraded and polluted.
Community-based coastal resources management in Fiji Islands: Case study of Korolevu-i-wai district, Nadroga
This study examines the impacts of community-based management (CBM) on the social and economic standards of the people in the district of Korolevu-i-wai. It also scrutinizes and evaluates the social and economic factors that have contributed to the achievement of these impacts.
Coral recruitment during a post-bleaching recover period
A total of 592 coral spat and 1,409 coral recruits were observed on tiles and reef substrate from three study sites at two depths per site, on Suva Reef. Adult hard coral abundances were higher in the shallow than in the deep zone. However, adult coral colonies from both depth zones suffered bleaching, with shallow zone corals suffering more than those in the deep.
The study of natural products from sponge Jaspis coriacea and a new Fijian ascidian Polyandrocarpa species
An investigation of the chemistry of the Fiji marine invertebrates yielded new natural products and interesting changes in the production of the metabolites.
Human impacts on Coastal Fisheries in rural communities and their Conservation Approach: A case study on Kaikoso (Anadara spp) Fishery in Verata District, Fiji
The results of this case study have demonstrated that human impacts on coastal fisheries, however small they may be perceived, significantly contribute to the decline in both the quality and the quantity of fishery resources in rural communities, even in rich fishing grounds and where urban-based sources of pollutant are absent.
Factors affecting growth rate of the cultured algae Eucheuma sp.
No description provided
Assessing the effects of Nitrogen Fixing plants on soil fertility on Kadavu
No description provided.
Community-based Marine Resources Management and Government Laws and Policies in Fij
No description provided.
Postgraduate course(s)
No description provided