/library/oar/handle/123456789/415 Tue, 16 Dec 2025 12:09:21 GMT 2025-12-16T12:09:21Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/142166 Title: First confirmed record of Tremoctopus violaceus Delle Chiaje, 1830 (Cephalopoda : Tremoctopodidae) from Maltese waters (Central Mediterranean) Authors: Scicluna, Antonia; Schembri, Patrick J. Abstract: The violet blanket octopus (Tremoctopus violaceus) is a rarely encountered argonautid cephalopod with few verified records from the Mediterranean. We report the first confirmed occurrence of T. violaceus in Maltese waters since an unverified mention in 1914. A female specimen was recovered from Mellieħa Bay (northern Malta) and identified on the basis of morphological features distinguishing it from the congeneric Tremoctopus gracilis. A second female Tremoctopus specimen was subsequently documented through photographs, although species-level identification was not possible as the specimen had been discarded. These findings expand knowledge of Tremoctopus distribution in the Central Mediterranean and underline the importance of collaboration with artisanal and recreational fishers in detecting rare taxa. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/142166 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/141782 Title: Baseline environmental survey of the Sukkursu canal, Salini : the largest transitional water body in Malta Authors: Scerri, Rebecca-Maria; Borg, Joseph A.; Evans, Julian; Schembri, Patrick J. Abstract: Although large transitional water bodies on continental Europe, such as estuaries and lagoons, have been well studied and characterised, those present on islands have received less attention. As a small island-state with a semiarid climate, Malta possesses limited areas with transitional waters. The largest such area is a U-shaped canal known as the Sukkursu, which owes its existence to historic coastal modifications dating back to the time of the Knights of St John (16th century). The present study aimed to establish the environmental characteristics of the Sukkursu canal, especially with regard to the macrofauna and macroalgae associated with its submerged water–land interface, and the physical and chemical characteristics of this transitional water body, which is a protected area. Collection of physical, chemical, and biotic data was carried out in all four seasons over a 1-year period from stations established around the canal. Assessment of physical and chemical data included measurements of water current speed and direction, temperature, salinity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, nutrients (reactive nitrate, phosphates, and ammonia), and chlorophyll-a. Quadrat, core, and hand-net samples were taken to collect biota, which was identified and counted. The results indicated that the water current in the canal predominantly flowed inwards along its wide western arm but was bidirectional to a great extent along the narrower eastern arm, resulting in reduced water flow and eutrophication. Overall, physical and chemical parameters varied significantly at both temporally and spatially. The outer stations differed from the inner ones in having higher macrofaunal abundance, number of macrofaunal species, total number of algal species, and biotic diversity, irrespective of season. Overall, the results obtained infer a strong influence of water movement at the outer stations, which permits replenishment by coastal seawater that has good water quality characteristics, but such influence is weaker at the inner stations. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/141782 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/141023 Title: CoDeMap : a classification scheme for benthic habitats from the coast to the deep sea in the Mediterranean and Black Sea Authors: Grande, Valentina; Angeletti, Lorenzo; Prampolini, Mariacristina; Castellan, Giorgio; Dalla Valle, Giacomo; Fraschetti, Simonetta; Basso, Daniela; Berov, Dimitar; Bracchi, Valentina A.; Cardone, Frine; Chimienti, Giovanni; Falace, Annalisa; Galil, Bella; Mastrototaro, Francesco; Salomidi, Maria; Savini, Alessandra; Schembri, Patrick J.; Todorova, Valentina; Taviani, Marco; Foglini, Federica Abstract: The spatial representation of benthic habitats is essential across various applications, such as biodiversity monitoring, ecosystem management and conservation, and maritime spatial planning. In this context, classification schemes provide a universally understandable framework to characterize and chart the seafloor. This work introduces the Coast to Deep Mapping (CoDeMap) classification scheme for benthic habitats from the coast to the deep-sea environments. It consists of three main components (Morphology, Substrate and Biology) and it is conceived as a practical tool for users from various backgrounds who need to organize and interpret marine observational data, as well as characterize and map seafloors. While primarily developed for the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea, CoDeMap serves as a foundational framework that can be adapted to address any current or future similar request worldwide. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/141023 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/140080 Title: Seed banking of mediterranean coastal plants : an analysis to identify current seed availability and gaps to guide future seed collection and habitat restoration activities Authors: De Vitis, Marcello; Di Cecco, Valter; Abdelaal, Mohamed; Bacchetta, Gianluigi; Bavcon, Jože; Benmenni, Kenza Saadiya; Bianchelli, Maurizio; Bou Dagher Kharrat, Magda; Buhagiar, Joseph A.; Carruggio, Francesca; Carta, Angelino; Casavecchia, Simona; Cristaudo, Antonia; Dessì, Ludovica; Di Martino, Luciano; Dixon, Lara; Fabrini, Giuseppe; Favier-Vittori, Caroline; Ferrando-Pardo, Inmaculada; Ferrer-Gallego, P. Pablo; Forte, Luigi; Fournaraki, Christini; Gigante, Daniela; Iannaccone, Marco; Kahale, Rhea; Khaldi, Abdelhamid; Koutsovoulou, Katerina; Krigas, Nikos; Laguna, Emilio; Lamoliere, Arthur; Lifshitz, Dikla; Maloupa, Eleni; Mantino, Francesca; Mariotti, Mauro; Markaki, Eleni; Martínez-Nieto, M. Isabel; Gati, Einav Mayzlish; Negri, Valeria; Oikonomidis, Spyridon; Panero, Ilaria; Papanastasi, Katerina; Porceddu, Marco; Raggi, Lorenzo; Ravnjak, Blanka; Salmeri, Cristina; Soriano, Pilar; Touhami, Issam; Vicens Fornés, Magdalena; Villani, Mariacristina; Yahi, Nassima; Zappa, Elena; Magrini, Sara Abstract: Mediterranean coastal habitats and the biotic communities they harbor face a variety of threats and their conservation is a global priority. Reintroductions are an effective tool to reverse wild plant population declines, and seed banks can supply the plant material required for these activities. Without accurate knowledge of what species are available at local seed banks, planning and performing reintroductions may be a challenge. In this study, we assessed the seed banking status of the characteristic species of target Mediterranean coastal habitats across 28 European and extra-European seed banks of the Mediterranean biogeographic region and answered the following questions: (1) how many accessions of the target species are currently banked? and (2) what has been the trend of seed collection for the target species in the last 50 years? We found that only half of the target species are stored in at least one seed bank, with many occurring in one seed bank as a single accession; for less than half of the target species, the surveyed seed banks had access to a propagation protocol; only 10% of the considered accessions have been used for in situ conservation activities; and seed collection efforts have increased exponentially over the last five decades. Mediterranean seed banks should prioritize future collection efforts on underrepresented species and habitats; and make good use of existing seed bank networks to share seeds and knowledge. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/140080 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z