Wildlife of Maltese Islands

• Climate

  Typically Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot/dry summers
• Wet season

  1. Lasts from October to March

  2. About 85% of rain falls in this period
• Dry season


  Lasts from April to September
• Temperatures

  Moderate, average 18°C, ranging from 12.3°C to 26.3°C
• Relative humidity

  High throughout the year, generally between 65-80%
• Sunshine

  Malta is renowned for its sunshine, with a mean daily average of 8.5 hours
• Windy conditions

  The norm
• Water resources


  Totally dependent on rainwater which percolates through rock to form underground reservoirs (aquifers)
• Major water source


  Globigerina and Coralline Limestone layers at sea level
• Fresh water percolation

  1. Percolates through rock

  2. Being lighter, floats on salty water infiltrating from sea
• Other water reserves

  Found on clay strata which trap water percolating through rocks above
• Water seepage

  Where Coralline and Clay layers are exposed, water seeps out of aquifer and flows downhill, forming streamlets
• Many springs have dried up completely due to over-pumping of water from underground sources
• Water catchment and storage

  1. Many valleys have been dammed for rainwater catchment and storage for irrigation

  2. Many farmers have excavated large reservoirs over clay strata to store rainwater for irrigation
• Malta is rich in biodiversity despite its small size and limited habitats
• Ecosystems


  Organisms and their environment
• Major ecosystems in Malta

  • Garigue
  • Sand dunes
  • Freshwater pools
• Vegetation in Malta

  Typical of low-lying areas of the Mediterranean, adapted to endure long dry season
• Woodland

  • Climax of vegetation series, dominated by Evergreen Oak and Aleppo Pine
  • Virtually exterminated following arrival of humans, only some remnants remain
• Buskett

  • Semi-natural woodland, with Aleppo Pine, Evergreen Oak, Olive and Carob as dominant trees
  • Only mature woodland ecosystem in Malta
• Maquis


  • Characterised by small trees and large shrubs like Carob, Olive, Lentisk and Bay Laurel, together with climbers
• Garigue

  • Develops on large expanses of limestone, characterised by dense, low-growing aromatic shrubs
• Steppe

  • Characterised by herbaceous plants, especially grasses, umbellifers, legumes and tuberous/bulbous species
  • Derived from degraded maquis and garigue
• Cliffs

  • Harbour many species of flora and fauna, including some endemic forms
• Saline marshlands

  • Formed in shallow coastal areas, characterised by specialised plants and animals
• Sand dunes

  • Last remaining systems struggle to survive against human interference, harbour specialised plants and animals
• Freshwater habitats


  • Scarce, especially in summer, include rock pools, pools and springs in valleys, home to rare species
• Caves


  • Not frequent, home to specialised organisms like bats and invertebrates, some endemic
• Malta has a high population density of 1212/km2, and over 1 million tourists per year
• Human development and progress

  Significant increase in effects on the environment
• Housing and road development

  1. Entail quarrying of Coralline and Globigerina Limestones

  2. Abandoned quarries and new quarries opened, some in areas of natural importance
• Terraced slopes and dry-stone walls are being abandoned, leading to soil erosion
• Increased built-up areas and roads have led to increased flood water volumes and rates, reducing water percolation
• Many areas of ecological significance have been lost due to development pressures
• Several indigenous species of flora and fauna have become extinct, while others are seriously threatened
• Uprooting of shrubs, sale of wild flowers, catching of frogs/crabs, fires, hunting/trapping, and marine overfishing have all damaged the environment
• Land reclamation, off-road vehicles, and use of pesticides/herbicides have also caused harm
• Collectors divesting the countryside of rare flora and fauna specimens have also contributed to damage
• Increased awareness and conservation efforts by NGOs and the government have helped in recent years
• Legislation, international conventions, and government initiatives like the Environment Protection Department and Planning Authority have aided conservation