The Biology Department of Faculty of Science of the University of Malta added another notch to its impressive tally by organising the 12th Biology Symposium on November 20. The packed hall included Sixth Form and University students, academic teaching staff, MEPA staff, members of NGOs and journalists.
The symposium, organised with financial assistance from MEPA's Environment Directorate, has established itself as an annual showcase of biological research projects conducted by B.Sc., M.Sc. and even Ph.D. students, whereby technical jargon is watered down and rendered more comprehensible to the layman.
Proceedings were opened by Professor Victor Axiak, head of the Biology Department, Professor Alfred Vella, Dean of the Faculty of Science, and Professor Joseph V. Bannister, Pro-Rector, who all stressed the current concerted European drive to bolster the science sectors.
As rightly pointed out by the University Chaplaincy Team, Malta has the wooden spoon among the EU's 25 states when it comes to the number of science graduates, while Dr Joe Mifsud, head of the University's European Unit, rightly argues that the University does not have the funds to participate in any more EU-funded research projects, although it is certainly not short of the necessary expertise.
As always, the Biology Department has delivered - the onus now is on the authorities to show their appreciation of the department's work in more tangible ways so that more research projects can be financed in the future.
This year's presentations could be divided into four tiers - botany (under the supervision of Edwin Lanfranco), conservation (Dr Adriana Vella), marine pollution (Professor Victor Axiak) and ecology and faunistics (Professor Patrick J. Schembri).
Botany presentations
The presentation by Albert Grech (B.Sc.) homed in on the phenotypic variation expressed in different populations of the indigenous, evergreen shrub Pistacia lentiscus (Maltese: deru), through the analysis of four different populations of the shrub (characteristic of our maquis) which were geographically quite distant from each other - i.e. Wied Babu (Zurrieq), Tal-Qares (Mosta) and Taht it-Torri (Comino). It transpired that each population was quite distinct from the rest, especially in terms of leaf density, leaf height and leaf shape.
The study by Jonathan Henwood (B.Sc.) was quite esoteric and absorbing, since it dealt with an aspect of our natural heritage most often shunned by local naturalists - i.e. rockpools found in rocky garigue (kamenitzas). These fill with rainwater in winter and nurture a whole slew of macroalgae (34 species) and microalgae (29 genera) despite their restricted physical dimensions. This is not to say anything about the fauna of such rockpools, equally as mesmerising. Local habitats, such as garigue, harbour a high biodiversity which should not be underestimated.
The contributions dispensed by Martin Polidano and Monique Hili (both B.Sc.) threw some welcome limelight on the bedraggled state of two valleys (widien), both in the south of the island, and this in itself is already fodder for thought.
In fact, the two valleys spanned were Wied Moqbol and Wied Znuber (both in the limits of Zurrieq). While the main problem afflicting the first valley is quarrying, the second is dogged by the discharge of raw sewage from the adjacent Hal Far industrial estate.
Wied Moqbol is facing the brunt of quarrying activities which started on the valley sides some 50 years ago (and which blew part of what should be scheduled cliffs to smithereens) and an application to relocate yet another quarry just metres away from the entrance to the valley is pending.
This despite the fact that a total of seven endemics, besides a number of sub-endemics, have been recorded from the valley, together with an interesting bracket fungus, Ganoderma adspersum and the Black Bryony (Tamus communis), previously unknown from the south of the island. Polidano also investigated the effect of quarry dust, mainly in the form of calcium carbonate concentration, on the valley vegetation which houses the largest local population of wild pera - Pyrus syriaca.
Wied Znuber too houses a large number of endemic species such as the Maltese Fleabane, Chiliadenus bocconei, Orobanche muteli var. melitensis, the Maltese Sea Lavender, Limonium melitense, the Maltese Salt-Tree, Darniella melitensis, the rare endemic Maltese Cliff Orache, Cremnophyton lanfrancoi and the scarce endemic Maltese Rock-Centaury, Palaeocyanus crassifolius.
Rare species are also to be found in Wied Znuber, such as the very rare and endangered sub-endemic species, the Maltese Toadflax, Linaria pseudolaxiflora, the rare Drooping broomrape, Orobanche cernua, the cage thistle, Atractylis cancellata, the Lavender broomrape, Orobanche lavandulacea, and the Mediterranean Pellitory, Parietaria lusitanica.
The bottom line from these two studies is that these two valleys have a very high conservation value and should be spared further human disturbance and advertised from an eco-tourism aspect.
Conservation presentations
Edward Duca (B.Sc.) and Jesmond Dalli (M.Sc.) were the two exponents of the conservation field of the symposium, who assessed the catch and effort among Maltese fishermen and local populations of elasmobranches respectively.
While Duca combed through three five-year fishermen logbooks for five different fishing gears, such as bottom longline, surface longline, gill net, trammel net and surrounding net, Dalli analysed elasmobranch market landings from 1952 to 2003, and performed market and coastal water searches to assess the state of health of local elasmobranch populations.
Marine pollution presentations
The lion's share of the proceedings was again this year taken up by the marine pollution sector - seven in all - to which I will refer briefly for space reasons. Due to the multi-faceted marine pollution that ravaged our seas, each speaker focused on a different threat.
Ramona Scerri (M.Sc.) used a chiton, Lepidochitona corrugata, as a bio-indicator of heavy metal pollution, such as by copper, zinc, mercury and lead, by dissecting its tissues and analysing its contents of proteins called metallothioneins.
Charmaine Vassallo (M.Sc.) also homed in on heavy metal contamination of our coastal waters - this time in the Grand Harbour area - by analysis using flame absorption spectrometry, of the tissues of a mollusc, Murex trunculus.
Her main finding was that surface run-off (including rain) from docks, and workshops (shipyard activities) surrounding Grand Harbour could be the main contributor to cadmium, copper, lead and zinc pollution of the seawater, rather than direct discharge.
Anthony Zammit's M.Sc. study focused on Gozo's worst eyesore - the SMWDS (Solid Mixed Waste Disposal Site) at Il-Qortin ta' Ghajn Damma, l/o Xaghra - in which he took marine sediments, soil samples and sediment samples from a freshwater spring from sites in very close propinquity, whilst even embarking on a landfill gas monitoring programme.
It is estimated that the SMWDS contains 424,200 tonnes of active (degradable, and possibly polluting) waste material, of which 193,200 tonnes are organic (potentially landfill gas producing) material. This waste material has the potential of generating a total of 170 million m3 of landfill gas (of which 85 million m3 of methane) and is expected to produce significant landfill gas volumes up to 2029.
Sarah Debono (M.Sc.) carried on with her in-depth study of harmful and toxic algal blooms in the Maltese Islands after she had carried out a baseline study on the same lines for her B.Sc. in 2001. She selected sites, all renowned for harbouring ideal growth conditions for such microalgae, such as high water temperatures, nutrient discharges and enclosed conditions, such as Dockyard Creek, Marsa, Mistra Bay, Marsascala Bay, Il-Maghluq ta' Marsascala, Sliema Creek and Salina.
Various species known to produce toxic effects on humans (such as Pseudonitzschia sp. and Alexandrium sp.) were recorded in all locations. Other species that were documented as causative organisms for large-scale fish kills were also common (e.g. Chaetoceros sp. and Coscinodiscus sp.).
Stephanie Ghio and Adela Cachia (both B.Sc.) focused on the impact of the Ic-Cumnija and Anchor Bay sewage outfalls in the NW of the island. Such studies have the potential to act as valuable baselines once sewage treatment plants are finally fledged locally since comparisons could then be made with the days of untreated sewage discharge.
While Cachia focused on metallothionein (MT) induction in a limpet (Patella rustica) as a sign of heavy metal discharge on site, Ghio measured a number of water quality parameters, such as nutrient concentrations, water transparency and chlorophyll concentrations as a yardstick for water pollution. She also analysed the liver tissue of the fish Serranus scriba to calculate the LSI (liver somatic index) and the K condition.
Gianluca Farrugia also focused on a potential hot potato - the impact of fish farming activities on the bacteriological quality of coastal waters by taking FC (faecal coeliformes) counts mainly.
His main scientific finding was that, when considering all the data for the whole year, the total bacterial counts of the water column were not necessarily higher near the fish cages than at the chosen control sites. His data suggested in fact that there are other important sources of organic waste contributing to microbial pollution besides the tuna farms.
Marine ecology presentations
Mark Alan Micallef (M.Sc.), through his research on deep-sea Posidonia meadows, opened the marine ecology sector of the proceedings. He recorded Posidonia, which is endemic to the Mediterranean, at a depth of 45 m from Ponta Rqiqa in Comino, despite the seagrass being restricted to an average maximum depth of 40 m due to the exponential decrease in light intensity with depth.
Hence, his finding speaks volumes about the water transparency level found in his sampling site. In his laborious study, Micallef also estimated the growth rate of the seagrass shoots and measured temperature, dissolved oxygen levels, salinity, pH and PAR (photosynthetic active radiation) at different depths and on a seasonal basis.
The kingpin throughout the proceedings must certainly have been the Ph.D. presentation by Dr Joe Borg, who completed his studies at the University of Plymouth and who was co-supervised locally by Professor Schembri.
The topic covered by his research is of the essence for local coastal management and conservation strategies since it deals with Posidonia oceanica meadows. This seagrass is renowned as a keystone species within the marine habitat since its root-rhizome system mitigates bed erosion, its shoots are an important fish nursery, it traps suspended material and buffers against strong water movement amongst other interactions with the physical environment.
Coastal managers all around the Mediterranean are well acquainted with these facts, even though in Malta we tend to relegate them to the back burner when it comes to deliberating on yacht marina sites, etc.
The riveting part from Dr Borg's research is that dead matte (i.e. Posidonia rhizomes not supporting any shoots) still harbours a very high biodiversity, despite a common misconception.
Having said this, the conservation of both living and dead Posidonia matte is of the essence since a high number of species were collected exclusively from living matte (32) and from dead matte (39) showing a high degree of discernment by different species. A staggering 215 species were collected in total from this research.
Plea to save The Central Mediterranean Naturalist
The Central Mediterranean Naturalist is a locally-produced biological sciences journal, edited by David Dandria, which deals with biological topics of local interest, such as elasmobranches (sharks, rays, skates, etc) recorded from Maltese waters, the presence of alien molluscs in our islands, a census of the local populations of Aphanius fasciatus (buzaqq) and much more.
The journal, produced and distributed by Nature Trust (Malta), is the latest local journal to face closure (after Xjenza and Centrum) because of financial problems. In this eventuality, the local research community would be deprived of a convenient publication avenue, which has turned some much needed limelight on our local biodiversity.
Of the Lm2 million extra funds allotted to the University in the 2005 Budget, cannot the journal be given a lifeline? The sum required is risible indeed but is still eluding our authorities. One can only augur that such an appeal is heeded by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Environment and Rural Affairs.
The author has been working as part-time research assistant within the Department of Biology since October 2001 and is a Ph.D. student within the same department. He would like to thank Professor Axiak, head of the department, and all the academic and non-academic staff, for unfailingly supporting the Biology Symposium.
deidunfever@yahoo.co.uk