A5020607782- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Plant and animal studies
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Crustacean biology and ecology
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Molecular Biology Techniques and Applications
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Maritime and Coastal Archaeology
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Marine and fisheries research
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Historical and Architectural Studies
- Ethics in Business and Education
University of Malta
2015-2025
Heritage Malta
2020-2023
Child Health Research Foundation
2022
ABSTRACT Invasion biology aims to identify traits and mechanisms that contribute successful invasions, while also providing general insights into the underlying population expansion adaptation rapid climate habitat changes. Certain phenotypic attributes have been linked role of genetics has critical in understanding invasive species. Nevertheless, a comprehensive summary evaluating most common evolutionary associated with invasions across species environments is still lacking. Here we...
<ns3:p>We present a genome assembly from specimen of <ns3:italic>Thunnus thynnus</ns3:italic> (Atlantic Bluefin Tuna; Chordata; Actinopteri; Scombriformes; Scombridae). The sequence has total length 799.05 megabases. Most the (99.17%) is scaffolded into 24 chromosomal pseudomolecules. mitochondrial also been assembled, with 16.53 kilobases. Gene annotation this on Ensembl identified 23,266 protein-coding genes.</ns3:p>
There is no sign of saturation in accumulation alien species (AS) introductions worldwide, additionally the rate spread for some has also been shown to be increasing. However, challenges gathering information on AS are recognized. Recent developments citizen science (CS) provide an opportunity improve data flow and knowledge while ensuring effective high quality societal engagement with issue IAS (Invasive Alien Species). Advances technology, particularly on-line recording smartphone apps,...
“New records of rare species in the Mediterranean Sea” (October 2021)
The movement of Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABFT) across international boundaries necessitates traceability strategies that would provide more accurate information needed for stock assessment. Mediterranean Sea is one the main contributors to ABFT reproduction and global population genetic diversity. In present study this variability was investigated using 193 samples adult from Spain, Turkey Malta – a longitudinal distance 3400 km. Analysed were 13 microsatellite loci (eight which newly-tested)...
Alien fish species are increasing in the Mediterranean Sea, urging closer monitoring of coastal habitats and biodiversity towards achieving timely assessment management. Among alien found Maltese waters there members Abudefduf genus. Research work undertaken with cooperation fishermen allows for additional effort to record presence their possible impacts. One such specimen collected from January 2014 was studied through morphological, meristic genetic analyses. Mitochondrial DNA barcoding...
This paper presents morphometric and genetic barcoding analyses of the first record Cocoa Damselfish, Stegastes variabilis in Mediterranean Sea. A single specimen was captured from Senglea waterfront, Malta (Central Mediterranean) on 15th September 2013. The species is non-indigenous Mediterranean, as it native to tropical Western Atlantic. Apart undertaking identification through meristics measurements specimen, analyss 3410 bp mtDNA genes were carried out confirm species' identity. latter...
The current study provides new data on the known records of Atlantic blue crab, Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896, from Maltese Islands through two ovigerous female specimens collected Salini (Malta), a Natura 2000 site, in August 2020. Additional species were also presented San Leonardo River estuary, Syracuse (Sicily, Italy), 2022. both Malta and Sicily identified using morphological molecular analyses. latter has shown that all analysed share their mitochondrial DNA barcode region with...
Loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta (Linnaeus, 1758), nestlings were investigated through specimens found dead either after hatching or unhatched (n = 120) from eight nests around the Maltese islands (Central Mediterranean). Molecular genetics was used to conduct maternity and paternity tests of collected utilizing expanded mitochondrial DNA sequences control region (858 bp) 25 microsatellite loci (12 dinucleotide 13 tetranucleotide loci). Mitochondrial data produced two haplotypes,...
Non-native marine species, including tropical eastern Atlantic fish species are on the increase in Malta, with shipping activities being main vector for movement of these alien from into Mediterranean Sea. This calls cooperation and collaboration between various sea-users researchers to ensure continuous monitoring coastal biodiversity. Research methods involving local fishermen efforts identify track populations Central has led new records genus Cephalopholis (Perciformes: Serranidae)...
Most of the Mediterranean members family Tetraodontidae are non-native to region, and include species both Atlantic Indo-Pacific origin.Anthropogenic activities synergistically causing populations these expand, ecological economical losses in Sea.The current study evaluated morphological genetic characteristics six collected from Sea.Two mitochondrial sequences, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) control region were studied covering over 1400 bp each specimen, with Lagocephalus sceleratus...
Research and monitoring of coastal habitats biodiversity is increasingly contributing to the discovery new alien species, which highlights use long-term for timely assessment management due marine environmental changes. work undertaken through snorkelling surveys working with fishermen allow additional effort record changes species presence. One such fish was observed during spring research while a specimen collected in August 2016 undertake detailed morphological, meristic genetic analyses....
Here we report the first record of Marbeled spinefoot, Siganus rivulatus Forsskål and Niebuhr, 1775 (Acanthuriformes: Siganidae), collected in July 2022 from Maltese coastal waters.The specimen was identified through morphological characters confirmed genetically DNA barcoding, given that family Siganidae is composed several species belonging to only one genus with similar overlapping characters.Previous this report, closest S. off island Sicily.Thus, presence waters suggests expanding its...
The Shortfin mako shark, Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810, is a globally distributed highly migratory pelagic shark species, occurring mostly in temperate and tropical regions, including the Mediterranean Sea where it by-caught during fishing activities targeting other economically important fish species. aim of this study to investigate genetic connectivity from central previously studied populations. mtDNA control region (CR), 977 bp, 37 I. specimens collected between 2004 2012 landings...
This study reports the first records of invasive fresh water red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii in Malta, spotted wild summer 2016. In spring 2017, 26 specimens P. were collected, sexed, measured and identified both morphologically genetically. The distribution density species along same valley investigated at Fiddien Valley Chadwick Lakes. As these two locations are associated with one major systems that cross island, presence this prolific, aggressive opportunistic feeding crayfish...
This work presents the first outcomes resulting from a DNA barcode reference library of lepidopteran species Malta. The presented here was constructed specimens collected between 2015 and 2019 covers genetic barcodes 146 (ca. 25% lepidopterous Maltese fauna), including four newly recorded Lepidoptera islands: Apatema baixerasi, Bostra dipectinialis, Oiketicoides lutea, Phereoeca praecox. during this study analyzed in conjunction with publicly available used to assess ability local...
Ten species of the Serranidae Family sampled from Mediterranean, including two non-native species, were identified using molecular genetic tools. Two mitochondrial genes, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and Cytochrome b (Cyt b) genes studied covering a total 980 bp which 360 exhibited differences. Within members genus Serranus highest haplotypic diversity, while genera larger grouper taxa have shown low nucleotide diversity indices with these markers. Each sequence was also checked...
The freshwater crab, Potamon fluviatile inhabits a number of watercourses in Italy, the Balkan Peninsula and some neighbouring islands. In this study, P. specimens (n = 176) were tissue sampled from different Maltese archipelago genetically analysed to investigate population structure species within small geographical area. DNA sequences included 622 nucleotides cytochrome oxidase c subunit 1 gene, 3160 sequence between NADH dehydrogenase 6 gene 16S rRNA gene. Results indicated occurrence...
Here, we report the first complete mitochondrial genome for smalltooth sand tiger shark, Odontaspis ferox (Risso, 1810). The circular was found to be 16,682 bp in length and contains 37 genes, a control region replication origin of L-strand (OL). base composition this mitogenome is 32.6% A, 23.3% C, 12.8% G, 31.3% T. Phylogenetic analysis Lamniformes indicates that O. did not group with Carcharias taurus so taxonomic classification Odontaspididae needs revised. This study promotes...