Habitats of the Maltese Islands
A brief review on the habitats of the Maltese islands
Habitats of the Maltese Islands
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4 HABITAT ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4 THE MALTESE ISLANDS ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 4 land cover …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
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5 TERRESTRIAL HABITATS ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6 THE ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6 STEPPE (STEPPA) ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6 GARRIGUE (XAGHRI) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
7 MAQUIS (MAKKJA) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 8 Woodland (Bosk) ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 9 COASTAL HABITATS ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 10 SALINE MARSHLANDS (BWAR SALMASTRI) …………………………………………………………………………………………….
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10 SAND DUNES (GĦAREM TAR-RAMEL) …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 11 RUPESTRAL HABITATS …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 12 CLIFFS (IRDUMIJIET)…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 12 REFERENCES …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 13
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Introduction
Habitat – The natural environment of an organism; place that is natural for the life and growth of an organism1
The Maltese Islands Situated in the middle of the Mediterranean, the Maltese islands are one of the smallest found in Europe. The islands stand on a submarine shallow elevation [the Malta-Ragusa Rise] which extends from the Ragusa peninsula of Sicily and continues southwards to the African coasts of Tunisia and Libya2.
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Due to the fact that the earth’s surface is constantly moving, it is important to point out that around 200 million years ago, in the period better known as the Jurassic Period, the earth’s continents were grouped as a whole Supercontinent named Pangaea which broke up in mainly three phases to form today’s earth’s continents. During this long process, in which the Mediterranean sea took shape, sediments like sand, clay and marine organisms such as the coral where deposited on the seabed of the Tethys Ocean3. These were then pressed together due to the constant movements of the continents, mainly that of Africa, forcing them to move upwards, above sea level, forming the Maltese islands.
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“habitat.” Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 02 Dec. 2009.
http://www.shadowservices.com/nature/Maltese/Geomorph/geograp.htm, As on 02 Dec. 2009 The Tethys Ocean existed between the continents of Gondwana and Laurasia when Pangaea broke from East to West- L-Ambjent Naturali Tal-Gzejjer Maltin- Sandro Lanfranco (2002)
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Land Cover Unfortunately in the Maltese island the natural environment is in minority compared to agricultural and urban development due to the islands’ size and population ratio. The following table indicates the percentages of land cover for the year 2006 as published by MEPA4: Cover Agricultural land Urban Fabric Urban Green Space Industrial, Commercial & Sports areas, Airports, etc Natural Vegetation Percentage(%) of surface cover 51 22.3 0.6 6.8 19
Land Cover Map. Source: MEPA
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Malta Environment & Planning Authority
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Terrestrial Habitats
The Ecological Successions As environmental conditions change throughout time, pioneer communities get replaced by other, full-grown, climax communities. These changes are known as the ecological succession, were these said successions can initiate either from a new unoccupied habitat or from an existing community and may be characterized in two sections; Primary and Secondary Successions. In more simple terms, primary succession starts in areas which have no biological presence, whereas secondary succession refers to the succession taking place where there was a disturbance to natural vegetation (in the case of the Maltese islands, this second succession is most common).
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In these ecological successions four habitats of the Maltese islands are formed, and these are the Steppe (Steppa), Garrigue (Xaghri), Maquis (Makkja) and Woodland (Bosk).
Steppe (Steppa) This community is characterised by the grassland, dominated by annual plants and no trees are present. Such plants include; Wild Carrot (Zunnarijja Selvagga) and Fennel (Buzbiez) from the Apiaceae family. This, however, can only be seen during the wet season as in the hot and arid season, this community looks degraded and one can find a substantial amount of Thistles (Xewk) and Common AwnGrass (Nixxief ta’ l-Isteppa).
It is important to note also that this community is a pioneer community, the primary stage in the ecological succession.
Steppe community during the wet season in Xlendi-Gozo. Source: www.mepa.org.mt as on Dec. ‘09
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Garrigue (Xaghri) This is the second stage in the ecological succession, generally rich in species and very common in the Maltese island. However, this community is quickly decreasing due to various building developments occurring on such land. In this habitat one finds the low growing aromatic shrubs like Thymus Capitatus (Saghtar), Mediterranean Prasium (Te Sqalli) the Olive-Leaved Germander (Zebbugija) from the Lamiaceae family and the Mediterranean Heath (Erika) from the Ericaceae family besides others. Reptiles who reside in these habitat are; Ocellated Skink (Xaħmet l-Art) and the Black WhipSnake (Serp Iswed).
Garrigue community. Source: www.ix-xaghri.4t.com as on Dec ‘09
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Maquis (Makkja) At this phase in the ecological succession, after the Steppe and the Garrigue, this climax community is produced. Here one finds trees growing up to 3 meters and large shrubs such as the Carob (Harruba) and the Olive (Zebbuga) if sufficient soil and water are available. Also, plants such as the Spiny Asparagus (Sprag Xewwieki), Wild Madder (Robbja Salvagga) and the Ivy (Liedna), besides others, thrive in this habitat. Other rare trees, such as the national Maltese tree; Sundarac Gum Tree (Sigra Ta’ L-Gharghar) and the Myrtle (Rihan) live in sub-types of the Maquis. This habitat generally forms in valleys and on its sides which is inaccessible to man.
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Maquis community on the steep side of a valley in Mizieb. Source: www.mepa.org.mt as on Dec ‘09
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Woodland (Bosk) As stated before in the ecological succession, the next development after the Maquis would be the Woodland. The basic characteristic of such habitat would be the large trees in the area. For these to grow, rich and deep soil needs to be present with a constant supply of water without any interference from man. In the Maltese islands, several woodlands are available, however only few of these which have occurred naturally still remain in part and these are; il-Bosk near Buskett (semi natural), the Holm Oak at il-Ballut tal-Wardija, il-Ballut ta’ l-Imġiebaħ and Wied Ħażrun in Had-Dingli. Besides trees, other species such as birds and mycroflora find shelter and grow in these types of habitats.
Buskett . Source: www.imagesofmalta.org as on Dec ‘09
Holm Oak at il-Ballut tal-Wardija. Source:www.mepa.org.mt as on Dec ‘09
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Coastal Habitats
These communities are characterised by a muddy substratum with brackish water on top during the wet season which evaporates in the summer. (However habitats such as the Natural Reserve in Ghadira, upon which there was a human intervention to improve it, holds the water during all seasons to attract more organisms all year round).
Different habitats that fall under this category are:
Saline Marshlands (Bwar Salmastri) This community is a mixture of mainly three environments, which are the, Terrestrial, Freshwater and Marine environments forming what’s known as ‘transitional environment’. In simpler terms this means that this habitat shelters species from the saline and freshwater habitats. The flora that grows here, such as the Golden Samphire (Xorbett) and other plants from the Tamarisk species are can stand harsh conditions
Ballut ta, a Saline Marshland in Marsaxlokk. Source www.mepa.org.mt as on Dec. ‘09
Habitats of the Maltese Islands
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Sand Dunes (Għarem tar-ramel) Found near sandy beaches, these ecosystems offer a very good protection to coastal communities. Unfortunately, these are being destroyed due to beach developments and are getting quite rare in the Maltese islands. A few of the vegetation found in these communities are: the Sand Couch Grass (Sikrana tar-Ramel) and the Prickly Saltwort (Ħaxixa ta’ l-Irmied Xewwikija) besides others.
Sand Dunes in Ramla Bay – Gozo.
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/carmelos-pictures/137082442/ as on Dec. ‘09
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Rupestral Habitats
Cliffs (Irdumijiet) Found mainly in the south side of the Maltese islands, these habitats are one of the harshest. Also due to its setting, this habitat provides shelter from human intrusion and thus protecting several endemic species The Rupestral communities which are found here, besides having to root really hard to the vertical surfaces, they have to survive strong winds and lack of water besides other inconveniences. Plants found here include the National Maltese plant; the Maltese Rock Centaury (Widnet il-Baħar) and the Gozo Hyoseris (Żigland ta’ Għawdex) in Gozo only. The cliffs provide also shelter for several birds, amongst which, the Yellow-legged Gull (Gawwija Prima), Cory’s Shearwater (Ċiefa) and the National Maltese bird, the Blue Rock Thrush (il-Merill).
Cliffs found at the South of the Maltese islands.
as on Dec. ‘09
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References Book: LANFRANCO, S. 2002. L-Ambjent Naturali tal-Gzejjer Maltin. Malta. Publikazzjoni Indipendenza (PIN) Online: http://www.mepa.org.mt/ accessed Dec ’09 http://www.birdlifemalta.org/ accessed Jan ’10 http://www.maltawildplants.com/ accessed Dec ’09 accessed Dec ’09 http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/EarthSC102Notes/102PTEarthHist.htm accessed Dec ’09 http://www.shadowservices.com/nature/Maltese/Geomorph/habit-ter.htm accessed Dec ’09
