The status of Otala punctata (Muller, 1774) : a recently established terrestrial gastropod in Malta

A population of the alien helicid Otala punctata (Müller, 1774) has recently been found on the island of Malta (Central Mediterranean), located around a single plant nursery at Mosta in the central part of the island. Extensive field collections indicate that this species was very probably introduced via the horticultural trade and is gradually extending its range from its point of introduction, occupying a variety of natural and anthropic habitats. Analysis of size-frequency data suggests that Otala punctata has successfully bred through at least three consecutive reproductive events until 2006. We hypothesise that Otala punctata was originally imported accidentally with plant material and established itself in the nursery, from where it then escaped into the surrounding land since 2003. This situation represents the introduction of yet another alien species on Malta with the potential of becoming an agricultural pest, and a threat to the islands’ biodiversity.peer-reviewe

Biology and interspecific interactions of the alien crab Percnon gibbesi in the Maltese Islands

Spatial and bathymetric distribution, population density, habitat preferences, fecundity, breeding season and interspecific interactions of the alien grapsoid crab Percnon gibbesi (H. Milne-Edwards, 1853) from the Maltese Islands (Malta and Gozo) are compared among localities in the Mediterranean where established populations have been reported since 1999. In the Maltese Islands, habitat preferences and bathymetric distribution were similar to those in other Mediterranean localities. Spatial distribution was found to be limited by the availability of the boulder habitat in which this crab nearly always occurs. Fecundity was higher in the Maltese Islands than in Linosa and Lampedusa, the breeding season lasting from the end of May until September. On Maltese shores the habitat of the alien overlapped with that of the native grapsid Pachygrapsus marmoratus (Fabricius, 1787) (Crustacea: Brachyura: Grapsoidea) and, to a lesser extent, that of the native xanthid Eriphia verrucosa (Forska°l, 1775). Laboratory studies to assess the possible interactions of the alien species with P. marmoratus suggest that the latter shows a competitive advantage over P. gibbesi, since 80.8% of encounters between the two species were initiated by P. marmoratus, and in 80% of the encounters it prevailed. This suggests that P. marmoratus is unlikely to be excluded from its natural habitat by the alien species, and that significant spatial resource partitioning on the part of P. marmoratus is unlikely to occur.peer-reviewe

Records of Cephalopods (Mollusca : Cephalopoda) from Maltese and surrounding waters (Central Mediterranean)

Based on an examination of several collections made in Maltese waters, 20 cephalopods are recorded of which three genera and seven species are reported for the first time from Maltese waters. The identity of some previously dubious records is clarified. Information is given on the material examined during the present study as well as on geographical distribution and habitat preferences of the species. Notes on the diagnostic charactcrs required for accurate identification and details of important diagnostic features arc included. All the species recorded are also known from the Strait of Sicily and other areas in the Central Mediterranean. There are very few Maltese records of pelagic species. This is partly a result of the fishing techniques used by local fishermen and partly because cephalopods are only a by-catch in Malta.peer-reviewe

A synthesis of the echinoderm fauna of the Maltese Islands

A review of existing literature records of echinoderms from Malta and a study of a large collection of specimens was carried out between 2000 and 2004 so as to update and produce a validated checklist of echinoderms occurring in Maltese waters. Seventy different species of echinoderms are recorded, including a number of species for which only single records exist for the Maltese islands and five species that were not found in the present study. The Maltese echinoderm fauna includes 45% of the 153 recorded Mediterranean echinoderm species, and apart from two aliens, is typical of the central Mediterranean region.peer-reviewe

On the occurrence of Crocidura Suaveolens Pallas (Mammalia, Insectivra) in the Maltese Islands with notes on other Maltese shrews

Crocidura suaveolens Pallas, 1811 is recorded definitely for the first time from the Maltese Islands. Previous records of this species are reviewed and are shown to refer to other species or else to be unconfirmed. Besides C. suaveolens, two other shrews inhabit the Maltese Islands. Sunclts e"ruscus (Savi) is distributed in both Malta and Gozo while both C. suaveolens Pallas and C. russula (Hermann) appear to be restricted to the island of Gozo. The latter species has not, however, been recorded in this study.peer-reviewe

A note concerning the scorpions (Arachnida : Scorpiones) of the Maltese Islands (Central Mediterranean)

All scorpions collected from the islands of Malta, Gozo, Camino and St. Paul's belonged to Euscorpius (s.str.) carpathicus (linnaeus, 1773) ssp. candiota Birula, 1903 as used by Kinzelbach (1975) for populations showing a complex of morphological characters intermediate between E.carpathicus carpathicus and E.mesotrichus Hadzi. Similar intermediate populations are found in several eastern Mediterranean localities (Greece, some Greek islands and Crete)" however the Maltese populations are more heterogenous than any other so far studied. The literature contains records of other species of scorpion from the Maltese Islands whereas the collections of the British Museum (Natural History), London include specimens of Mesobuthus gibbosus (Brulle) reportedly collected from Malta. These records are discussed and it is postulated that they are either errors of identification or labelling, or else represent introduced exotics now locally extinct.peer-reviewe

Seasonal changes in populations of Caulerpa taxifolia var. distichophylla in the Maltese Islands

Caulerpa taxifolia var. distichophylla, an alien alga in the Mediterranean Sea, was first recorded from the Maltese Islands in 2013. Initial observations suggested that it underwent complete frond regression in winter, possibly due to the colder temperatures. Since then it has spread rapidly and has become abundant in the infralittoral in some localities. The present two-year study on the Maltese populations indicates that the alga is able to resist low seawater temperatures during the winter and is not regressing completely, potentially increasing its ecological impact.peer-reviewe

On the occurrence of Agama agama (L.) (Reptilia : Agamidae) in the Maltese Islands

A live female specimen of Agama agama (L.) was found amongst crates of imported beer at Marsa, Malta in October 1979. This lizard was probably transported to Malta from North Africa with cargo.peer-reviewe

Algal substratum preferences of the alien foraminiferan Amphistegina lobifera in shallow water

The Lessepsian foraminiferan Amphistegina lobifera is particularly numerous on algae in shallow water. We sampled foraminiferans from three algae (Cystoseira spp., Padina pavonica and Halopteris sp.) within the 0.75 - 2.0 m depth zone from five different sites around the island of Malta. There was a significant difference in the population density of live Amphistegina between the algae studied with Halopteris being preferred to Padina and with very sparse populations on Cystoseira.peer-reviewe

Population ecology of Phaleria acuminata (Coleoptera : Tenebrionidae) from sandy beaches in the Maltese Islands

Populations of the beetle Phaleria acuminata fromfour beaches on the Maltese Islands were sampled for six consecutive seasons to investigate changes in population size, sex ratio, reproductive state and distribution on the shore. The populations on all the beaches showed a small decrease in numbers from spring to summer and a pronounced drop from summer to autumn, with a dramatic increase between winter and spring. Male to female sex ratio varied between 1:1 and 1:1.5. Females of all reproductive stages occurred throughout the year. There were little seasonal differences in distribution of beetles in the wet and dry zones.peer-reviewe