Search

The arachnid fauna of the Maltese Islands has not yet been adequately investigated. In the present work, from a total of 117 species sampled, 36 taxa represent newly recorded spider species (Araneae) for Malta, with an additional new record of a harvestman (Opiliones). These new records include three new spider families and one new harvestman family for the Maltese archipelago: Anyphaenidae Bertkau, 1878, Mimetidae Simon, 1881, Oxyopidae Thorell, 1869 and Sclerosomatidae Simon, 1879; as well as two species which are recorded from Europe for the first time: Acartauchenius insigniceps (Simon, 1894) and Zelotes poecilochroaeformis Denis, 1937. Ecological, distributional, biogeographical and taxonomic notes are provided for the newly recorded species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different engineering geological and geophysical investigations were performed at the Sopu promontory in the island of Gozo (Malta), involved in an impressive lateral spreading process due to the superimposition of a stiff limestone (ULC) on a ductile clay (BC). The applied techniques include: traditional geological and engineering geological surveys, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) survey, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) survey, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) investigations, single-station seismic ambient noise measurements, and array seismic ambient noise measurements. The integration of the obtained results allowed us to reconstruct a subsoil model of the promontory that includes features related to the local geology of the slope and to the landslide process, as well as to define a conceptual model that describes the main evolution phases of the expansion process. The presence of back-tilted rock blocks with no features of polarization of Rayleigh waves evidenced the different failure mechanism of the rigid UCL plateau at the Sopu promontory with respect to the Selmun promontory, located in the close island of Malta, where the lateral spreading due to the same geological setting tends to produce unstable rock blocks with a toppling mechanism. This result encourages further future observations and analyses of this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ship graffiti in Malta can be understood as an archaeological manifestation of a Mediterranean island's maritime identity. The profusion and distribution of graffiti must be contextualized within local histories, naval powers, and maritime industry, and the ways these shaped the demographic and religious landscapes in the early modern period. Ship graffiti has the capacity to fill gaps in scholarship as well as raise important historical and archaeological questions. Technological advancements continue to revolutionize the documentation, study, and communication of graffiti sites. Systematic methodologies demonstrate the value of interpreting ship graffiti through an archaeological lens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morchella galilaea is unique among morels by its autumnal fruiting and a worldwide but disjunct distribution, strongly biased towards islands. The drivers of this reversed seasonality and transcontinental dispersal remain poorly understood. New records of M. galilaea from several islands of the Mediterranean, and from the Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean, all unveiled here, invited us to revisit and discuss the biogeography, phenology and ecology of this intriguing morel. Our ecological and molecular findings do not support recent anthropogenic introductions as causal for the tropism of M. galilaea for islands. Instead, we postulate a tentative model of evolution in which the paleotropical origins of the species may be responsible for the release of strict seasonality constraints inherited early during the genus' evolutionary history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eumenine fauna of the Maltese Islands is reviewed and 17 species are asserted as occurring in the mentioned territory. Of these, Parodontodynerus ephippium and Stenodynerus fastidiosissimus are recorded for the first time from the Maltese archipelago. An annotated species list and a key to species are provided. Three doubtful records are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed for a taxonomic investigation conducted on populations of Bolboschoenus (Cyperaceae) growing in wetlands throughout the Maltese Islands. A detailed account of the ecology and morphometric analysis of eleven flower-bearing populations is provided and supplemented by images. Emphasis was made on the inflorescence and the achenes, whereas palyological observations were also included. No significant taxonomic difference has been found between ray-bearing and rayless plants and all examined material did not correspond to B. maritimus, the only species reported in previous floristic literature. Findings instead showed two distinct morphotypes that are undocumented. The one prevailing in mainland Malta was completely sterile (a unique finding for the genus) except for one small population, which harboured fragment pockets of fertile plants corresponding best to B. glaucus s. l. The other morphotype occurred only on the Island of Gozo and consisted of achene-producing plants that did not match any of the described Bolboschoenus species. Morphometrics indicated an intermediate position between B. glaucus and B. maritimus. Further investigations that are more diagnostic from morphometrics are advocated for reliable taxonomic conclusions of both populations, possibly leading to the first records of the hybrid B. glaucus × maritimus, as indicated in this morphological study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malta, Gozo and Comino, the Thrinacia of Homer and the Melitē, Phoebe and Lampas of Scylax, form an archipelago in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea inhabited by both Phoenicians and Greeks before the coming of the Romans to those islands. Many geographers mention them, but other authors refer to their importance as places of production of textiles and other natural goods like oil and honey. Of particular importance was the site of the temple of Juno and Hercules known to Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans as well as to Numidians. Malta and Gozo were also praised for their good harbors and stone. The Grand Harbour itself served as an important Byzantine base with its tower and inner harbour, both places bearing Greek names. Malta was converted to Christianity in AD 60 following St Paul’s shipwreck there, where he spent three winter months. The aim of this article is to scrutinize the information about Malta and Gozo in numerous Greek, Roman and Christian sources.

Within an E.U.-funded project, BESS (Pocket Beach Management and Remote Surveillance System), the notion of a geographic information system is an indispensable tool for managing the dynamics of georeferenced data and information for any form of territorial planning. This notion was further explored with the creation of a WebGIS portal that will allow local and regional stakeholders/authorities obtain an easy remote access tool to monitor the status of pocket beaches (PB) in the Maltese Archipelago and Sicily. In this paper, we provide a methodological approach for the implementation of a WebGIS necessary for very detailed dynamic mapping and visualization of geospatial coastal data; the description of the dataset necessary for the monitoring of coastal areas, especially the PBs; and a demonstration of a case study for the PBs of Sicily and Malta by using the methodology and the dataset used during the BESS project. Detailed steps involved in the creation of the WebGIS are presented. These include data preparation, data storage, and data publication and transformation into geo-services. With the help of different Open Geospatial Consortium protocols, the WebGIS displays different layers of information for 134 PBs including orthophotos, sedimentological/geomorphological beach characteristics, shoreline evolution, geometric and morphological parameters, shallow water bathymetry, and photographs of pocket beaches. The WebGIS allows not only for identifying, evaluating, and directing potential solutions to present and arising issues, but also enables public access and involvement. It reflects a platform for future local and regional coastal zone monitoring and management, by promoting public/private involvement in addressing coastal issues and providing local public administrations with an improved technology to monitor coastal changes and help better plan suitable interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Literature / Literatura is the property of Vilnius University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The paper presents a geomorphological map of the north-eastern coast of the Island of Gozo (Malta) integrating inland and offshore areas at the scale 1:15,000. The map derives from the integration of different methods, such as aerial photo interpretation, field surveys and analysis of seafloor bathymetry. The landforms identified on land were shaped by coastal, fluvial, karst and gravity-induced processes, and some of them prolong on the seafloor. Most of the submerged landforms appear to have been modelled in subaerial conditions during sea-level lowstands, having been sealed by the rising sea in post-glacial times. Two sketches accompany the Main Map showing the type and distribution of coastal geomorphotypes and the land cover of the area.

During a recent visit of the Maltese Islands Malta and Gozo in January 2018, some 200 collections of bryophytes have been done representing one species of hornworts, 14 species of liverworts and 49 species of mosses, among these six first records (Riccia ciliata Hoffm., Targionia lorbeeriana Müll.Frib., Amblystegium serpens (Hedw.) Schimp., Cheilothela chloropus (Brid.) K.Saito, Ephemerum recurvifolium (Dicks.) Boulay, and Tortula cuneifolia (Dicks.) Turner). Riccia ciliifera Link ex Lindenb., Riccia crozalsii Levier and Acaulon muticum (Hedw.) Müll.Hal. have been redetected after more than 100 years, and the occurrence of three very recently reported species (Cephaloziella baumgartneri Schiffn., Astomum crispum (Hedw.) Hampe and Tortula vahliana (Schultz) Mont.) has been confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a geomorphological map of the north-eastern coast of the Island of Gozo (Malta) integrating inland and offshore areas at the scale 1:15,000. The map derives from the integration of different methods, such as aerial photo interpretation, field surveys and analysis of seafloor bathymetry. The landforms identified on land were shaped by coastal, fluvial, karst and gravity-induced processes, and some of them prolong on the seafloor. Most of the submerged landforms appear to have been modelled in subaerial conditions during sea-level lowstands, having been sealed by the rising sea in post-glacial times. Two sketches accompany the Main Map showing the type and distribution of coastal geomorphotypes and the land cover of the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migration strategies often permit densely populated island territories to alleviate unemployment, ease pressure on limited resources, and compensate for the absence of economic diversification. This paper evaluates two types of recent migratory flows affecting the Maltese archipelago: international migration to and from the islands triggered or intensified by European Union membership; and domestic, inter-island movements between the ‘mainland’ (Malta) and the smaller island (Gozo).The descriptive statistics used are based on published data, whilst the qualitative evaluation is derived from focus groups and interviews with stakeholders. Conclusions suggest that emigration remains an overall positive experience at the individual level, with constructive spill-over effects, mingling of cultures and better use of resources at the national level. Such benefits can be expected to increase if authorities design policies which encourage rather than discourage migratory flows.

Copyright of Veterinary Archives / Veterinarski Arhiv is the property of University of Zagreb, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this study we report the results obtained from an island-wide survey aimed at researching an under-emphasized key feature of climate change adaptation—namely willingness to adapt on the basis of the perceptions and beliefs held by the Gozitan livestock and crop farmers. Some of the main objectives of this study included the: (1) determination of whether the current perception is in line with the observed climatic changes at the local scale, and (2) identification of the typology of these farmers, together with those factors that affect both skepticism and acceptance of climate change. This study provided an important first step in the objective validation of local farmers' perceptions of climate change, as well as in the development of a comprehensive understanding of their attitude, beliefs, willingness and capacity to adjust their practices in response to climate change. The results pointed to several important conclusions that can be used to inform research, outreach strategies and policy formulation, targeting the Gozitan farming sector to adapt to climate change without delay. The forgoing analysis showed a dire need for more information both on impacts and risks, as well as on ways how to introduce new farming techniques and practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays energy consumption of buildings in different countries comprises 20–40% of total energy use. In Malta, the building sector consumes about 35% of the total energy consumption, with hotels playing a significant role in producing carbon dioxide emissions. In this scenario and taking into consideration the EPBD goal for 2020, a review of all possible measures that can be considered to attain near or net zero-energy buildings has been made.. A case study has also been adopted to design a real new small hotel in the island of Gozo, Malta with the aim of making it a low energy building. An energy analysis software Design Builder-EnergyPlus has been used to simulate and optimise the energy use of the hotel, through improvements in the building's envelope. Polysun software has also been used to evaluate the performance of sustainable energy and high efficiency systems. A number of optimum solutions combining different systems together with improved building envelope design were then proposed to make the hotel a zero net-energy building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A revised list of mosses and their distribution in Malta up till 2011 is presented. Ten species and one variety are new, but six previous records are considered questionable and five have been rejected. Nineteen species have not been found again since 1915. Over 50% of the species listed belong to Pottiaceae, reflecting the prevailing arid climate of the Maltese island. The semi/natural habitats host the greatest diversity and need to be protected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migration strategies often permit densely populated island territories to alleviate unemployment, ease pressure on limited resources, and compensate for the absence of economic diversification. This paper evaluates two types of recent migratory flows affecting the Maltese archipelago: international migration to and from the islands triggered or intensified by European Union membership; and domestic, inter-island movements between the 'mainland' (Malta) and the smaller island (Gozo).The descriptive statistics used are based on published data, whilst the qualitative evaluation is derived from focus groups and interviews with stakeholders. Conclusions suggest that emigration remains an overall positive experience at the individual level, with constructive spill-over effects, mingling of cultures and better use of resources at the national level. Such benefits can be expected to increase if authorities design policies which encourage rather than discourage migratory flows [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conjoined twinning is a relatively rare event in any community, with a rate of 1.58 per 100,000 maternities reported in the EUROCAT database. The present study reviews the historical records for conjoined twins born in a closed Central Mediterranean archipelago population with particular reference to the last three decades. While the natural monozygotic twinning rates in the Maltese Islands corresponds to that reported from other communities, the incidence of conjoined twinning in the Maltese Islands has been shown by the present study to be significantly 2.5-times higher than that reported by the remaining EUROCAT contributors. The rate reported from the Maltese Islands by this review is 3.98 per 100,000 maternities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coastal landscape of the Maltese Islands is the result of long-term evolution, influenced by tectonics, geomorphological processes, and sea level oscillations. Due to their geological setting, the islands are particularly prone to marine-related and gravity-induced processes, exacerbated by climate change. This study aligns different concepts into a relatively concise and expedient methodology for overall coastal vulnerability assessment, taking the NE sector of Gozo Island as a test case. Geomorphological investigation, integrated with analysis of marine geophysical data, enabled characterization of coastal dynamics, identifying this stretch of coast as being potentially hazardous. The study area features a high economic value derived from tourist and mining activities and natural protected areas, that altogether not only make coastal vulnerability a major concern but also the task of assessing it complex. Before introducing the methodology proposed for overall vulnerability assessment, an in-depth revision of the vulnerability concept is provided. The evaluation was carried out by using a set of key indicators related to local land use, anthropic and natural assets, economic activities, and social issues. Results show that the most critical areas are located east of Marsalforn including Ramla Bay, an important tourist attraction hosting the largest sandy beach in Gozo. The method combines physical exposure and social vulnerability into an overall index. It proves to be cost effective in data management and processing and is suitable for the identification and assessment of overall vulnerability of coastal areas to consequences of climate- and marine-related processes, such as coastal erosion, landslides and sea level rise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]