Notes on the ecological importance of the beach macrofaunal assemblages at Ix-Xatt L-Ahmar, Gozo (Maltese archipelago)

Abstract

No data from comprehensive, multi-seasonal macrofaunal studies for the two secluded beaches at Xatt L- Ahmar (Gozo) has been published to date. This paper reports on the deployment of pitfall trap constellations (for nocturnal surface-active macrofauna) and hand-towed nets in shallow water (for infralittoral macrofauna emerging at night in the water column) for eight consecutive seasons. Despite their small size, the beaches at ix-Xatt l-Ahmar harbour relatively high macrofaunal individual abundances, high fractions of psammophilic (i.e. sand-specific species) species and high fractions of rare or endangered species. On the basis of the results reported in this study, it is suggested that the current conservation regime afforded to the ix-Xatt L-Ahmar environs (mainly on cultural and historical grounds) is revised and extended in order to safeguard this ecologically important site.