/library/oar/handle/123456789/314 2025-12-20T17:05:23Z 2025-12-20T17:05:23Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/141857 2025-12-03T07:20:36Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Living shorelines and coastal resilience : a systematic review of effectiveness Abstract: This capstone presents a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature that evaluates the effectiveness of living shorelines as a nature-based solution for enhancing coastal resilience. Drawing on 33 studies published between 2008 and 2025, the review synthesizes evidence across four primary domains: erosion control, biodiversity and habitat support, water quality and ecosystem services, and socio-economic benefits. Findings indicate that living shorelines consistently reduce shoreline erosion, particularly in high-energy environments, when hybrid designs incorporating structural elements are employed. Biodiversity outcomes were generally positive, with restored sites supporting nekton communities, submerged aquatic vegetation, and intertidal invertebrates that were comparable to or exceeded natural reference conditions. Living shorelines also contributed to improved water quality through enhanced nutrient cycling, sediment retention, and carbon storage, particularly in marsh-based and oyster-integrated systems. Additionally, evidence suggests living shorelines provide economic co-benefits by protecting property, supporting recreation and tourism, and offering long-term cost savings. However, variability in site conditions, design approaches, and monitoring practices limits generalizability and highlights the need for standardized metrics and long-term evaluations. This review supports the growing body of evidence that living shorelines are a multifunctional tool for climate adaptation and sustainable coastal management while also identifying research and policy gaps that must be addressed to optimize future implementation. Description: M.Sc. (EMS)(Melit.)

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/141856 2025-12-03T07:17:18Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Mapping the invasive crayfish distribution across Malta Abstract: The freshwater ecosystems on the Maltese archipelago are extremely vulnerable to alien species invasion due to an already limited freshwater supply and the threatened species that inhabit it. This study discusses the effects and provides an updated population estimation of two invasive crayfish species, P. clarkii and P. virginalis, that have been found on the archipelago since 2016. The primary goal of this research is to provide updated information on the distribution and impacts that invasive crayfish are having on the Maltese freshwater system. These species are significant threats to local species as they tend to alter landscapes, encroach on habitat territory, and prey upon small amphibians such as the Maltese painted frog (Discoglossus pictus) and on aquatic invertebrates, some of which are rare and threatened. The fieldwork involved in this study was conducted at five different locations across Malta and Gozo from February to April of 2025. The crayfish were observed through visual counts, evidence of molting, as well as observation of their effects on the surrounding area. These effects range from decreased biodiversity to lower water quality. Additional research was done through literature review, lab identification, as well as correspondence with a local site manager at Chadwick Lakes. This research found that established crayfish have a high density in the Western Chadwick Lakes area as well as at Ghadira Ta’ Sarraflu on Gozo. Current efforts to manage populations are insufficient and lack the funding and resources necessary to properly do so. This study calls for increased public awareness of invasive species located in the Maltese freshwater environment as well as better management strategies accompanied by proper funding. Description: M.Sc. (EMS)(Melit.)

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/141855 2025-12-03T07:03:56Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Native and historically documented drought-tolerant plant species in Malta : their potential for sustainable use in modern climate conditions Abstract: The Maltese archipelago (Fig 1), comprising of three main islands, Malta, Gozo, and Comino, is situated in the central Mediterranean and represents a unique ecological and geographical setting shaped by millennia of human-environment interactions (Gambin, 2020). Due to their location and limited freshwater resources, these islands have historically faced significant environmental challenges, especially regarding land use (Gambin et al., 2016). Understanding the long-term dynamics of plant communities and climate adaptations in this region is critical for framing sustainable practices under current and projected climate conditions. The islands' small size (316km2) and high population density (1704.39 km2; see World Population Review, 2025) have exerted intense pressure on land and natural resources (Schembri, 1993). Over the centuries, this pressure led to deforestation, soil degradation, and the introduction of exotic species, drastically altering native vegetation patterns (MEPA, 2009). Nevertheless, remnants of native flora and traditional knowledge on plant cultivation persist, offering valuable insight into potential drought-tolerant species that could support sustainable agricultural practices today (Attard et al., 2024). Description: M.Sc. (EMS)(Melit.)

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/141469 2025-11-20T11:00:21Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: A spatiotemporal analysis of marine heatwave frequency around Malta Abstract: As global climate change intensifies due to anthropogenic influences, marine heatwaves (MHWs) have increased in both frequency and duration, posing significant risks to marine ecosystems. These extreme warming events occur not only at the ocean surface but also at subsurface depths, where their dynamics and ecological impacts remain less understood. This study analyzes in-situ buoy data, sea surface temperature (SST) satellite data, and reanalyzed subsurface temperature model data from the Marine Copernicus Service in the central Mediterranean Sea to investigate MHW occurrence across vertical profiles over more than a decade. Using the 95th percentile temperature threshold for each grid cell and a minimum event duration of five to ten days, MHW counts were calculated spatially and complied annually to assess temporal patterns. Surface MHWs showed some correlation with atmospheric heatwaves during the same years, indicating the influence of atmospheric conditions on ocean surface warming. However, the comparison between surface and subsurface temperature anomalies revealed the presence of subsurface MHWs that often persisted independently from surface events. These subsurface heatwaves retained temperatures for extended periods, even at depths approaching 500 meters. These findings show the growing significance of subsurface MHWs and emphasize the need of increased monitoring and research of the vertical extent and duration of these events. Understanding these deeper warming events is important to prevent damage to the marine ecosystems, both pelagic and benthic. This study highlights the importance of integrating subsurface data in MHW research to improve predictions, ecological impact assessments, and inform sustainable marine management practices in a world affected by warming temperatures. Description: MSc. (EMS)(Melit.)

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z