https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/315 . 2026-07-18T22:51:26Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148055 Title: Assessing the conservation status of selected insects in the Maltese Islands Abstract: The main aim of this dissertation is to present an evaluation of the conservation status of selected groups of insects of the Maltese fauna, including a reassessment of selected species listed in Schembri and Sultana (1989). Species were evaluated using IUCN criteria based on data from literature published over the last 30 years. Selected species within 48 selected families from Coleoptera, Diptera, and Lepidoptera were considered on the basis of the information available. The conservation status using IUCN categories as well as notes are provided for each species that was (re)evaluated. Overall, a total of 381 species were successfully (re)assessed, including 95 species from Schembri and Sultana (1989). The overall percentages of IUCN categories that were evaluated is as follows: ‘Least Concern’ – 6.3%, ‘Near Threatened’ – 5.5 %, ‘Vulnerable’ – 13.6%, ‘Endangered’ – 27.3%, ‘Critically Endangered’ – 15.5%, ‘Possibly Extinct’ – 13.6%, ‘Data Deficient’ – 17.6%, and ‘Not Applicable’ 0.3%. There was a significant change in the IUCN conservation status of selected species that were mentioned in Schembri and Sultana (1989), with 59% of species evaluated being in a threatened or near threatened category, an increase from 1% to 11% of species classified as ‘Possibly Extinct’, and from 0% to 3% in the ‘Least Concern’ and ‘Near Threatened’ categories; and a decrease in the ‘Vulnerable’ (from 21% to 18%) and the ‘Endangered’ (from 30% to 24%) categories. This may be due to using a more objective approach when evaluating the species with the standardised IUCN criteria, rather than the previous subjective approach. When comparing distribution type (endemic vs nonendemic), no significant difference was found on extinction risk. This was probably due to the fact that even non-endemic species are frequently threatened at the local scale because of their small extent of occurrence and area of occupancy at the national scale, in turn largely a consequence of the small size of the islands. Moreover, the last recorded locations of ‘Critically Endangered’ and ‘Possibly Extinct’ species, as well as all the distribution data for threatened species, were visualised on QGIS maps, which display clustering in locations such as Buskett, Marsa, Salina, Mġarr, Rabat, Dingli, Marsaskala, Marsaxlokk, Girgenti, Mellieħa, Għar Lapsi in Malta, and Ramla, Marsalforn, Victoria and Xlendi in Gozo. These locations include habitats such as sand dunes, salt marshes, and freshwater pools, and are considered vulnerable due to human impact, climate change, and habitat loss. Therefore, these locations should be of conservation priority. In conclusion, long-term monitoring as well as further research into the ecology of the species evaluated, as well as assessment of both direct and indirect impacts that are contributing to insect population decline, is recommended in order to develop better conservation strategies for the preservation of the Maltese insect fauna. Description: M.Sc.(Melit.) 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148053 Title: Evaluating the influence of temperature fluctuations on soil state in the Maltese Islands using remote sensing techniques Abstract: Increasing temperatures and droughts present growing environmental challenges in the Mediterranean region, particularly for small island environments like the Maltese Islands where water resources are limited and climate pressures are intensifying. This study examined the spatial and temporal variability of soil surface temperature and soil dryness across the Maltese Islands over a ten-year period (2015–2024) using remote sensing techniques. The analysis focused on seasonal and interannual changes in Land Surface Temperature (LST) and the Temperature Vegetation Shortwave Dryness Index (TVSDI), and on evaluating the relationship between surface temperature and soil dryness under semi-arid conditions. Wet and dry seasons were analysed separately to capture the strong seasonal contrasts characteristic of the Mediterranean climate. Statistical analyses, including correlation and regression tests were applied to assess relationships between LST and TVSDI across districts and seasons. The results revealed a clear seasonal contrast, with dry-season LST values consistently exceeding wet-season values across all districts. While district-level differences in LST were not statistically significant once seasonality was considered, spatial patterns showed persistently higher temperatures in urbanised districts and cooler conditions in rural districts and hydrologically active areas. TVSDI values remained relatively uniform during the wet season, reflecting the homogenising effect of winter rainfall, but exhibited pronounced spatial and temporal variability during the dry season. The South Eastern, Western and Gozo districts consistently recorded the highest dryness levels, with extreme conditions observed in 2016, 2020 and particularly 2024. A strong and statistically significant positive relationship between LST and TVSDI was identified during the dry season, indicating that surface temperature is the dominant driver of soil dryness under moisture-limited conditions. In contrast, weak wet-season relationships highlighted the moderating role of rainfall. Overall, the findings demonstrated the effectiveness of LST-based remote sensing indices for monitoring soil dryness in semi-arid island environments and provided insight into emerging drought trends under ongoing climate change. Description: M.Sc.(Melit.) 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146782 Title: Canary Broom (Cytisus canariensis (L.) Kuntze Fabaceae) Authors: Attard, Tamara; Attard, Everaldo Abstract: Cytisus canariensis (L.) Kuntze, commonly known as Canary Island Bloom (Figure 21.1), is known for its characteristically yellow flowers. It is a coastal plant and an endemic of the Canary Islands. This archipelago is com posed of seven islands, namely, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro, close to West Coast of Morocco (Chaachouay et al., 2019). Though being autonomous communities of Spain, the plant has been introduced to continental Europe and beyond. It is a member of the pea family, also known as legumes. In spite of its long- standing history as a hallucinogen, it is currently being investigated as a viable alternative to tobacco or as a supplementary component to mitigate the inhalation of tobacco by individuals who smoke. When consumed in the form of cigarettes, G. canariensis exhibits effects that are comparable to, or somewhat less intense than, those of tobacco cigarettes. The observed aftertaste of electronic cigarettes is characterized by its sweetness, in contrast to the mildly bitter aftertaste com monly associated with traditional tobacco cigarettes (Fadiman, 1965). 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146781 Title: Hepatotoxic reactions and pharmacological interactions related to Hypericum perforatum medical use : a disproportionality analysis of EudraVigilance data Authors: Ammendolia, Ilaria; Attard, Everaldo; Esposito, Emanuela; Calapai, Gioacchino; Currò, Mariaconcetta; Midiri, Paola; Attard, Tamara; Cancellieri, Antonino; Cardia, Luigi; Calapai, Fabrizio Abstract: Hypericum perforatum is a very popular traditional herbal medicine used for antidepressant effects. Hypericum perforatum herbal preparations can be the cause for pharmacokinetic interactions due to the possibility that components of the plant induce the activity of CYP3A4, CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and P-glycoprotein. The aim of this study is to update the safety profile related with the use of Hypericum perforatum in European countries. An analysis was conducted on spontaneous reports of suspected adverse reactions (SARs) recorded in the EudraVigilance database. In addition, a disproportionality analysis was performed to compare SARs related to hepatobiliary disorders in patients exposed to Hypericum perforatum with those reported for the synthetic antidepressants fluoxetine and citalopram. Both drug interactions and hepatobiliary disorders were specifically assessed as adverse reactions associated with Hypericum perforatum in comparison to the reference drugs. Pharmacological interactions were the most frequent cause of SARs caused by Hypericum perforatum, while analysis of disproportionality showed that Hypericum perforatumwas associated with a higher reporting probability of “Hepatobiliary disorders” and, although to a lesser extent, also “Drug interactions”, in comparison to fluoxetine and citalopram. Data from this research draws attention to the potential hepatotoxicity of Hypericum perforatum and suggests a deeper study of the causes, which appear to be only partially linked with the mechanisms that produce pharmacological interactions. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z