Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/21512
Full metadata record
DC FieldValueLanguage
dc.contributor.authorSchembri, Patrick J.-
dc.date.accessioned2017-09-04T10:23:06Z-
dc.date.available2017-09-04T10:23:06Z-
dc.date.issued1993-
dc.identifier.citationSchembri P.J. (1993). Physical geography and ecology of the Maltese Islands: a brief overview. In S. Busuttil, F. Lerin, & L. Mizzi (Eds.), Malta : food, agriculture, fisheries and the environment (pp. 27-39). Montpellier: CIHEAM.en_GB
dc.identifier.urihttps://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar//handle/123456789/21512-
dc.description.abstractThe Maltese archipelago, occupying an area of c.316 km 2 and situated in the central Mediterranean, consists of the inhabited islands of Malta and Gozo and a number of uninhabited islets and rocks. The islands are composed mainly of limestone of Oligo-Miocene age. Soils are young, show little horizon development, and are very similar to the parent rocks. There are no mountains, streams or lakes, but only minor springs. The main geomorphological features are karstic limestone plateaux, hillsides covered with clay taluses, and gently rolling limestone plains. The southwest coast is mainly steep sea-cliffs and the land tilts gently seawards to the northeast. The islands are riven by valleys which drain runoff during the wet season. The average annual rainfall is c . 530 mm of which some 85% falls during the period October to March. The mean monthly temperature range is 12-26°C. The islands are very windy and sunny. Natural water resources depend on percolating rainwater which collects in limestone aquifers. The flora and fauna are rich with c. 2,000 species of plants and more than 3,000 species of animals recorded to date; a relatively large number of species are endemic. The main ecosystems are maquis, garrigue and steppe. Minor ones include patches of woodland, coastal wetlands, sand dunes, freshwater and rupestral communities and those of caves. Human impact is significant. The resident population density is 1,140 per km2. Some 38% of the land area is cultivated and c.16% is built up. Environmental problems include accelerated soil erosion, quarrying, disposal of waste, high levels of chlorides and nitrates in the water supply, and loss of habitats and wildlife. The most important environmental issue at present is the rational use of land, a problem which is only now being tackled by the Maltese Government.en_GB
dc.language.isoenen_GB
dc.publisherOptions Méditerranéennesen_GB
dc.relation.ispartofseriesOptions Méditerranéennes;B-
dc.rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessen_GB
dc.subjectEcology -- Maltaen_GB
dc.subjectAnimals -- Maltaen_GB
dc.subjectPlants -- Maltaen_GB
dc.subjectMalta -- Climateen_GB
dc.subjectGeomorphology -- Maltaen_GB
dc.subjectGeology -- Maltaen_GB
dc.titlePhysical geography and ecology of the Maltese Islands : a brief overviewen_GB
dc.title.alternativeMalta : food, agriculture, fisheries and the environmenten_GB
dc.typebookParten_GB
dc.rights.holderThe copyright of this work belongs to the author(s)/publisher. The rights of this work are as defined by the appropriate Copyright Legislation or as modified by any successive legislation. Users may access this work and can make use of the information contained in accordance with the Copyright Legislation provided that the author must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the prior permission of the copyright holder.en_GB
dc.description.reviewedpeer-revieweden_GB
Appears in Collections:Scholarly Works - FacSciBio

Files in This Item:
File Description SizeFormat 
Schembri_PJ_1993_Physical_geography_and_ecology_of.pdf81.02 kBAdobe PDFView/Open


Items in OAR@UM are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.