https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/13768 2026-04-24T00:46:19Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145342 Title: A spatio-temporal study of the presence of vessels within a Natura 2000 marine protected area of the Maltese Islands Authors: Abela, Sarah Anne; Deidun, Alan; Gauci, Adam; Gauci, Ritienne Abstract: Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are essential for preserving marine biodiversity; yet they face challenges from various human pressures, including vessel activities. This study examines the extent, spatial distribution, and temporal variability of vessel activity within the Southwest Marine Protected Area (MT101), a Natura 2000 site off the Maltese Islands, with the aim of identifying where and to what degree different vessel categories overlap with protected marine habitats. Using Automatic Identification System (AIS) data spanning 2017–2022, a cumulative, normalised vessel density approach was applied to five vessel types: passenger, fishing, cargo, tanker, and tug and towing vessel, and spatially integrated with the distribution of four Annex I habitat types, including sandbanks, Posidonia oceanica meadows, reefs, and sea caves. The analysis reveals distinct spatial and temporal hotspots of vessel presence, with passenger and fishing vessels showing consistently high overlap with ecologically sensitive habitats, particularly within bay areas and along sections of the MPA boundary, while cargo, tanker, and tug activities are more concentrated offshore. While direct ecological impacts were not quantified and vessel density serves as a proxy for potential pressure, the results highlight areas where vessel-related pressures are likely to be most pronounced and where management intervention is most urgently required. By linking long-term vessel activity patterns with habitat distribution, this study delivers a spatially explicit and transferable framework for assessing cumulative maritime pressures, providing an evidence base to support targeted, habitat-specific management measures, improved enforcement, and marine spatial planning within MPAs. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145341 Title: Genetic affiliation and origin of the European Cat Snake, Telescopus fallax (Fleischmann, 1831), in the Maltese archipelago Authors: Faraone, Francesco Paolo; Sciberras, Arnold; Jablonski, Daniel; Sciberras, Jeffrey; Lo Valvo, Mario; Deidun, Alan; Vecchioni, Luca Abstract: The snake fauna of the Mediterranean islands has been shaped by multiple processes, including both natural and human-mediated dispersal. Various past human cultures and recent changes in trade and transportation have played a crucial role in the expansion of some species into insular environments. The snakes present on the Maltese archipelago are particularly emblematic of this complex mix of dispersal events. The European Cat Snake, Telescopus fallax (Fleischmann, 1831), forms a species complex widespread from the Balkans to the Middle East and across many eastern Mediterranean islands, regarded in most of the literature as introduced on the Maltese archipelago. Here we genetically investigated the Maltese populations of T. fallax using the mitochondrial marker Cytochrome b, with the aim of properly identifying their genetic affiliation and tracing their possible origin. The eight sequences obtained from the populations of Malta and Gozo shared the same mitochondrial haplotype and clustered together with the Balkan clade of T. fallax, thereby supporting their affiliation to the currently recognized nominotypical subspecies. The haplotype of the Maltese Cat Snake is identical to that of populations from the western Peloponnese and the island of Skyros (Sporades, Greece). The lack of variability found between the studied populations and some from southern Greece supports the hypothesis that this snake was introduced during historical times. The succession of many small Hellenic communities on the Maltese archipelago over the last few Biogeographia 41 (1): a064 2 Faraone et al., 2026 millennia suggests a possible Greek-mediated introduction; however, precisely because of the repeated presence of these influences over time, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact timing of introduction. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/143341 Title: Data quality control of the Malta Seismic Network (2015-2024) Authors: Agius, Matthew; Farrugia, Daniela; D'Amico, Sebastiano; Galea, Pauline Abstract: Malta lies in a seismically active region of the Central Mediterranean, where local and distant earthquakes pose a hazard to the local community. To address this, the Malta Seismic Network (MSN) was established, growing from three to eight stations over the past decade. This study reviews the performance and data quality of the MSN, assessing availability, noise levels, timing accuracy, and sensor orientation. Results show generally reliable operation, though a few individual stations faced challenges such as power shortages, equipment failures, and timing inconsistencies. The network has proven crucial during seismic crises and of benefit for geophysical investigations. Future developments aim to expand the station coverage and strengthen international collaborations, ensuring the MSN continues to advance earthquake monitoring and geophysical research in Malta and beyond. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/143313 Title: Numerical modelling of erosional landforms driven by offshore groundwater flow on siliciclastic continental margins : a conceptual approach Authors: Gupta, Shubhangi; Micallef, Aaron Abstract: Offshore freshened groundwater (OFG) has long been hypothesised to be a key factor shaping continental margins worldwide. Field observations from siliciclastic margins suggest strong causal links between sub-seafloor OFG flow and seafloor depressions, canyons and landslide scars. These links have been hard to validate due to a paucity of appropriate field data and difficulty in simulating the subsurface flow and geomorphic processes in the laboratory. Here we present a numerical study that simulates the geomorphic action of sub-seafloor OFG seepage in an idealised 3D continental margin. Analysis of the coupling conditions highlights the multiplicative nature of the primary driving mechanisms (seepage-induced erosion and slope instability), suggesting a continuous transition between flow- and stress-controlled landforms. We find that OFG can create landforms in siliciclastic margins when buried flow pathways exist. Shelf-break depth determines landform type and timing. Shelf-breaks deeper than the sea-level lowstand lead to shallow circular depressions in the mid-shelf region, while those shallower than the lowstand yield V-shaped and theatre-headed valleys in the outer shelf to upper slope. Landforms emerge during falling sea-levels, starting as pockmark trains along the edges of the buried channels. Sensitivity studies show that: (1) channel width and depth affect only landform size, not type, and (2) OFG-related landforms are mainly erosion-driven and can evolve into slope failures in coarse-grained sediments with low cohesive strength. Our model aligns with field observations of pockmarks, canyons, and landslides in various continental margin settings. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z