- Tenth International Symposium "Monitoring of Mediterranean Coastal Areas: Problems and Measurement Techniques"
- Edited by Laura Bonora, Marcantonio Catelani, Matteo De Vincenzi, Giorgio Matteucci
Ecological zonation and abiotic variability in an enclosed nature park: the case of the salini saltworks in malta
- Martina Busuttil
- Robin Caruana Montaldo
- Lena Ehmcke
- Elise Bartl
- Francesco Giacalone
- Alessandro Giuffrida
- Sarina Hilke
- Giulia Lembo
- Andrea Li Vorsi
- Shona Murphy
- Elia Ponte
- Natalia Szklarczyk
- Katya Debono
- Belinda Gambin
- Sandro Lanfranco
- © 2024 Author(s) |
- CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
- DOI: 10.36253/979-12-215-0556-6.08
The Salini saltern complex (SSC), was a natural wetland that now functions as a nature park. The SSC is oriented along a NE to SW axis measuring 740 m by 140 m, with a surface area of 90000 m2. It comprises two reservoirs at the seaward extremity (each 12000 m2 in area) and 33 smaller pans in the inland portion, with surface areas ranging from 900 m2 to 2000 m2. This study addressed a knowledge gap by recording abiotic and ecological conditions across the SSC and relating them to the external marine conditions. The salina was visited monthly between 25 July 2022 and 5 July 2023. During each visit, the temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, nitrate and phosphate concentration of water were measured in the open sea, in the two reservoirs, and in 15 pans. The diversity of macroalgae, spermatophytes, and non-planktonic fauna was evaluated through direct observation, collection of specimens and photographic monitoring. Water quality changed in spatial and temporal dimensions within the SSC. The principal trend was a sharp gradient of abiotic conditions along the primary axis of the SSC from the seaward side to the landward side, suggesting changes in the characteristics of water during its movement from the open sea into the reservoirs and the pans. The species richness increased from the open sea to the reservoirs and decreased to much lower levels in the pans. The elevated species richness in the reservoirs is attributable to the higher stability relative to the sea and pans.
- Keywords:
- salinas,
- Malta,
- electrical conductivity,
- species richness,
University of Malta, Malta - ORCID: 0009-0001-8230-3552
University of Malta, Malta
University of Malta, Malta
University of Malta, Malta
University of Malta, Malta
University of Malta, Malta
University of Malta, Malta
University of Malta, Malta
University of Malta, Malta
University of Malta, Malta
University of Malta, Malta
University of Malta, Malta
University of Malta, Malta - ORCID: 0009-0007-2389-478X
University of Malta, Malta - ORCID: 0000-0001-5233-254X
University of Malta, Malta - ORCID: 0000-0002-0360-7065
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Chapter Information
Chapter Title
Ecological zonation and abiotic variability in an enclosed nature park: the case of the salini saltworks in malta
Authors
Martina Busuttil, Robin Caruana Montaldo, Lena Ehmcke, Elise Bartl, Francesco Giacalone, Alessandro Giuffrida, Sarina Hilke, Giulia Lembo, Andrea Li Vorsi, Shona Murphy, Elia Ponte, Natalia Szklarczyk, Katya Debono, Belinda Gambin, Sandro Lanfranco
Language
Italian
DOI
10.36253/979-12-215-0556-6.08
Peer Reviewed
Publication Year
2024
Copyright Information
© 2024 Author(s)
Content License
Metadata License
Bibliographic Information
Book Title
Tenth International Symposium "Monitoring of Mediterranean Coastal Areas: Problems and Measurement Techniques"
Book Subtitle
Livorno (Italy) 11th-13th June 2024
Editors
Laura Bonora, Marcantonio Catelani, Matteo De Vincenzi, Giorgio Matteucci
Peer Reviewed
Publication Year
2024
Copyright Information
© 2024 Author(s)
Content License
Metadata License
Publisher Name
Firenze University Press
DOI
10.36253/979-12-215-0556-6
eISBN (pdf)
979-12-215-0556-6
eISBN (xml)
979-12-215-0557-3
Series Title
Monitoring of Mediterranean Coastal Areas: Problems and Measurement Techniques
Series E-ISSN
2975-0288