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MARINE CONSERVATION BIOLOGY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Since 1997 research activities have included marine research on migratory and pelagic organisms including cetaceans, blue fin tuna, dolphinfish, sea turtles and manta rays.  Coastal conservation research, impacts of anthropogenic developments and activities at sea and the role of the changing marine conditions are also considered in the projects.  Techniques used for these studies range from ecological research in the field, statistical modelling of data available from remote sensing and aerial surveys, to laboratory investigations.  The following are brief overviews of two of the projects undertaken in an area encompassing a maximum distance of approximately 150 miles from the Maltese Islands.

CETACEAN CONSERVATION RESEARCH

The cetacean project has focused on identifying the species found in the Central Mediterranean Region, followed by their abundance and distribution at different times of the year.  This project is still ongoing and has incorporated a photo-ID system project for the species found closer to the Maltese coasts.  This would allow the distinction between resident and migratory populations with their areas of preference around the Maltese Islands.  This knowledge is instrumental in identifying proper management for marine conservation and protection of endangered species.  Collaboration with other Mediterranean entities, such as CIESM, has been established, especially to upgrade the information relevant to the distribution and conservation requirements of various species in the Mediterranean Sea.  Dr. Vella’s collaboration with the local Environment Protection Department in cases of cetacean strandings was instrumental in the preparation and production of the first National Protocol on the Management of Stranded Cetaceans on our coasts, issued in March 1999.   Dr. Vella participating as a visiting researcher in the world Sperm whale research project while undertaking surveys in the Mediterranean Sea, for more information refer to:

 http://www.um.edu.mt/pressreleases/2004/cetacean_researcher.html

Dr. Vella also participates in Cetacean Courses and has lectured on cetacean biology and conservation abroad such as in the courses held in Lampedusa 2007.  She also supervises post graduate university research in this field.

Through Dr. Vella’s research work on cetaceans, the Conservation Biology Research Group is ACCOBAMS partner.

 

 

 

BLUEFIN TUNA CONSERVATION STUDY

 
The bluefin tuna project planned in 1997, developed due to the growing need to safeguard the local fisheries resources for future generations of Maltese fishermen, but also as a means to investigate the stock structure and migration through modern technologies and thus plan up-to date management methods for sustainable use of this economically important resource.  Due to the onset of Dr. Vella’s project, another Mediterranean bluefin tuna project by COPEMED was attracted to incorporate Malta, through Dr. Vella’s project, under its wings.  She participated in the ICCAT meeting in 1998. Through Dr. Adriana Vella’s active participation and consultations during the preparative stages of the COPEMED project, the Fisheries Department of Malta joined in the project in 1999 and has benefited by allowing its undergraduate/s to take up Master project/s out of this FAO-funded research program.   Dr. A. Vella has presented aspects of her bluefin tuna research at the Department of Biology, University of Malta at the European conservation biology conference see below:

http://www.um.edu.mt/pressreleases/2006/adrianavella_bluefintuna.html

MARINE BIODIVERSITY AND SUSTAINABLE FISHING RESEARCH

Research of coastal and offshore marine research is undertaken side by side to human impacts, such as fishing and disturbances through SCUBA diving.  Sustainable fishing in the Maltese Islands and the effects of local fishing activities on the target, by-catch and the marine environment are being assessed through biological research.  Dr. Vella has introduced research work of wild stock fisheries and by-catch assessments as research projects at the Department of Biology under her supervision since 2000.

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Population structure and genetic variability is being assessed for different organisms in order to look into the relationship between environment heterogeneity and fragmentation and the genetic status of local wild population/s:  Example, Bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean Sea.  Techniques developed include both allozyme and DNA methods. Other species currently under study as part of the Conservation Biology Research Group led by Dr. Vella are Elasmobranch and Grouper molecular genetics.

Dr. Vella has presented her blue fin tuna genetics results at the First European Conservation Biology Congress in Hungary 2006 for more information refer to: http://www.um.edu.mt/pressreleases/2006/adrianavella_bluefintuna.html

Other techniques applied to conservation assessment of habitats using molecular genetics include the SCGE Comet Assay technique used to assess the DNA integrity of individuals of species found in various sites around the Maltese Islands.  This technique has been used successfully on sea cucumbers and sea urchins.

Population genetics of non-marine organisms are also dealt with, such as work on local bats.

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TERRESTRIAL CONSERVATION: SPECIES AND HABITATS

 
BAT RESEARCH

 
The distribution, abundance and ecology of the bat species are studied in line with the condition of the actual and potential roosting and feeding areas of these species in the Maltese Islands.  Pipistrellus species which are found to be the most abundant in the Maltese Islands are being studied through long-term research.

 

Molecular genetics of Bat species has also been developed in the Conservation Genetics laboratory of the Conservation Biology Research Group led by Dr. Vella.

HEDGEHOG RESEARCH

 
No previous local scientific work had been undertaken on local hedgehogs and thus no clear indication of the distribution, abundance and/or ecology of Hedgehogs was locally known.  Associated human effects: direct and indirect are being assessed to produce recommendations for hedgehog effective safeguard in the future.

 

ENVIRONMENT VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT

Toward a better assessment of environmental vulnerability, Dr. A. Vella was invited to participate in the UNEP Meeting of Experts on the Enviromental Vulnerability Index held in Malta in 1999, so as to assist in the development of accurate tools in the assessment and management of environmental changes in different Islands world-wide.  Research in the identification of the most critical elements sustaining life and biodiversity in the Maltese Islands are at the heart of this project.

 

BIODIVERSITY AT CONSERVATION SITES

 

Conservation Assessments and Biodiversity investigations of Conservation areas on and around the Maltese Islands, such as Ghajn Tuffieha in Malta and Ramla Bay in Gozo.

BIODIVERSITY and Ecotourism Research

This area is another aspect of the Conservation Research topics covered by the Conservation Biology Research Group led by Dr. Adriana Vella.  She has participated and chaired conference sessions on this topic and has supervised research projects and lectured on this topic too.  Research also involved Biodiversity measures of richness and quality in areas of Conservation or Tourism value.

 
PARTICULATE AIR POLLUTION STUDY

Air pollution research has also produced relevant environmental results which have highlighted the impact of environmental conditions on human health and quality of life.  A project focusing on particulate airborne concentrations in various areas of Malta and the assessed prevalence of symptoms of asthma in children was instrumental in opening the doors to greater local air pollution issue consideration.  In particular the need for research on the effects of particulate size and concentration on various environmental and human conditions is at the base of this research area which was also available through Dr. Vella’s supervision

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