Madame Belinda GAMBIN / PhD

Background Malta The Mediterranean region has one of the richest fauna and flora in the world and is categorised as a major biodiversity hotspot (Médail, 2008). However, the Mediterranean ecosystems are among the most vulnerable ecosystems of the world having undergone a very long history of human activities. The recent exacerbated human activities in the circum-Mediterranean region under a challenging climate change perspective, shows that the natural ecosystems of the region are more than ever threatened by the sum of these human-induced phenomena. Moreover, this picture is still more catastrophic for the insular environments in the Mediterranean Sea because they are, in turn, among the most vulnerable of the Earth's ecosystems. The Maltese Islands, consisting of three islands with a total area of 316km2, provide a good example of such an insular ecosystem which has suffered enormously from the long history of human settlements and the recently increased human activities. These problems highlight the necessity for more particular attention to the environmental issues for decision-makers for the future development of the country. Palaeoecology and Ecology However, a prime step towards this is to understand the long-term dynamics of the natural ecosystems; especially that of the vegetation and landscape and its reaction to human interventions. Palaeoecological investigations complemented with geoarchaeological researches provide a strong tool to acquire and expand knowledge on the functioning of these ecosystems in harmony with human activities. Currently, a very important French-funded ANR (Agence Nationale de Recherche) Franco-Maltese project is being conducted on the reconstruction of the physical and biological evolution of the island during the Holocene (the last 10,000 years). The human-vegetation interactions and the evolution of vegetation in relation to natural climate change will form an integral part of this project; which will be studied through a palynological approach. The interpretation and modelling of fossil pollen data obtained during this study also requires the information on the relationships between modern pollen rain-natural vegetation in both natural and particularly anthropogenised environments. The Maltese islands have a landscape mosaic consisting of maquis, garigues, steppes, cliff communities, disturbed ground, along with a number of saline marshes and coastal sand areas. There are also important relict remnants of the original natural ecosystems such as the Quercus ilex-dominated stands and Tetraclinis articuilata populations, encompassed within an intensively cultivated and urbanised landscape. This situation provides an ideal possibility to undertake a classical pollen rain-vegetation study on the island to recognize the natural versus anthropogenic signals in the pollen diagrams. This, in turn, allows more scientifically-based interpretation of the vegetation dynamics in a typical human-impacted insular Mediterranean ecosystem. The study, however, may necessitate a similar comparative study in the continental side of the Mediterranean region with semi-natural vegetation (e.g. Italian Peninsula and North Africa). Management and Conservation Malta is party to a number of Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEAs) including but not limited to: the Protocol Concerning Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean; the International Plant Protection Convention; the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats; the UN Convention on Biological Diversity; and the European Landscape Convention. In Malta, there are a number of extant legislation and policies, such as the Environment Protection Act 2001, as well as ongoing projects such as the creation of a National Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan (NBSAP). These policies and projects are aimed at protecting the Maltese Islands' fragile and important environments and regenerating certain habitats. It is envisaged that this research will provide a more holistic understanding of local habitats and ecosystems and thus contribute significantly to the medium and long-term protection and management of such areas of importance. Aims There are four main aims for this research; • a classic modern pollen rain-vegetation study • pollen analysis of terrestrial-marine cores • age determination of the remnant stands of Tetraclinis articulata, Olea europeae, Quercus ilex, etc. • associated implications for management and conservation One of the main objectives of this PhD research proposal is to provide a new vegetation and pollen database for a firm calibration of pollen-vegetation signals in the pollen diagrams. It should be noted that the data obtained in this study will also contribute to the global databases (European Pollen Database which is hosted in IMEP) which are urgently needed in the modelling of the Earth's ecosystem responses to global environmental and climatic changes from a key biogeographical and climatic area. This study will contribute to the functioning of the relict terrestrial endangered ecosystems of the Maltese Islands such as the relict populations of endemic/ sub-endemic floral species best exemplified by T. articulata. One of the methods applied will be the dendrochronological study of the remnant stands which will enable the age determination of these important stands. Methods The status of the modern vegetation and land-use will be estimated through the utilization of a number of historic and modern maps and aerial photography available to the PhD student through the LOQUS Group in Malta. For the purpose of the study, the pollen analysis and dendrochronological measurements will be conducted in the laboratories of IMEP. The material for the core analysis has already been collected during several field trips for the PALEOMED ANR and is stocked in IMEP. The material for the dendrochronological investigation will be collected from the islands as part of this PhD study. Expected Results - General vegetation or land-use maps - Quantification of surface pollen assemblages - Construction of pollen diagrams from the cores - Age determination of relict stands - Proposed management and conservation measures Tentative time table - First year: vegetation and surface pollen measurements - Second year: fossil pollen studies and dendrochronological measurements - Third year: data analysis, write-up References Médail, F. (2008) Mediterranean. Ecosystems (ed. by S.E. Jørgensen, B.D. Fath), Encyclopedia of Ecology, Volume 3, pp. 2296-2308. Elsevier, Oxford. Malta Environment and Planning Authority (2009) Flora, Fauna and Natural Habitats Protection (Amendment) Regulations in L.N. 162 of 2009 Environment Protection Act [Online], Available: www.mepa.org.mt Malta Environment and Planning Authority (2010) National Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan – NBSAP. [Online], Available: www.mepa.org.mt Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs (2001) Environmental Protection Act [Online], Available: http://docs.justice.gov.mt/lom/legislation/english/leg/vol_9/chapt348.pdf