GOZ032 - Ghajn Klin
Description
Għajn Klin is an artificially constructed pond, located in south-eastern Gozo within the village of Għajnsielem. The pond covers an approximate area of 3,910m2. The site is accessible to the public from a surfaced road. The site is predominantly surrounded by agricultural land. Residences are located to the north of the pond. The boundary between the residential area and the terraced land beneath is connected through a road that leads past Għajn Klin and eventually to the coast. Pipelines were present scattered throughout the fields, indicating that the pond is being used for the irrigation of the nearby agricultural fields. A conversation with a local confirmed that the water that is collected at Għajn Klin helps to sustain the fields in the area. A maquis habitat was present behind the pond, dominated by Ceratonia siliqua and Olea europaea, with Opuntia ficus-indica being abundant at field boundaries. Within the pond, species of interest included Juncus sp., Tamarix sp. and Typha domingensis, however, a relatively high percentage of alien species such as Mirabilis jalapa var. odorata, Ricinus communis, Oxalis pes-caprae and Arundo donax were also recorded. Pelophylax bedriagae was found to be abundant within the pond. This alien frog was also highly vocal during the field investigation. It is not excluded that a population of Discoglossus pictus might also be present although specimens of this species was not noted during the site investiagation. The site is not protected by any legislation.
Wetland data
Basic information
Wetland location: | Inland |
Wetland type: | Artificial |
Wetland area: | 0.40 Ha |
Hydrological interaction: | - |
Water salinity: | Fresh (< 0.5 g/l) |
Type of fresh water input: | Catchment area (precipitation) |
Surface water runoff | Other |
Open water area (%): | 26 - 50 |
Hydroperiod: | Permanent |
Geographic information
Census district: | Gozo and Comino |
Island: | Gozo |
Local council: | Ghajnsielem and Comino |
Longitude: | 14.287880 East |
Latitude: | 36.022880 North |
Biological significance
Biological significance: | High |
Ramsar wetland type
Type | Coverage (%) |
2 -- Ponds; includes farm ponds, stock ponds, small tanks; (generally below 8 ha) |
Property status
Private |
Protection status category | Protection status subcategory | Area's name | Code | Coverage area (%) | Legislation |
National | Area of Ecological Importance/Site of Scientific Importance | Ghadajjar ta' l-ilma helu f'Ghajn Klin, ix-Xatt l-Ahmar (l/ta' Ghajnsielem, Ghawdex) | 174725 | 99 | Development Planning Act (Act VII of 2016) |
CDDA protection status
CDDA code | CDDA category |
MT02 | Area of Ecological Importance/Site of Scientific Importance |
Ecosystem services
Type of ecosystem service | Ecosystem service | Scale of Βenefit (%) | Importance |
Provisioning services | Food | ||
Provisioning services | Fresh water | ||
Supporting services | Nutrient cycling | ||
Supporting services | Provision of habitat | ||
Regulatory services | Water regulation |
Activities on wetland
Activity | Intensity |
130 = Irrigation | High |
502 = roads motorways | Medium |
701 = water pollution | Low |
954 = invasion by a species | High |
Activities on catchment area
Activity | Intensity |
100 = Cultivation | High |
110 = Use of pesticides | High |
120 = Fertilisation | High |
130 = Irrigation | High |
401 = continuous urbanisation | High |
430 = Agricultural structures | Low |
502 = roads motorways | High |
530 = Improved access to site | High |
710 = Noise nuisance | Medium |
Impacts
Impact | Intensity |
EE- = Increase of economic potential | High |
ES- = Increase in water supply | Medium |
PF- = Fertilizer/Excess nutrient pollution | Low |
PP- = Pesticide pollution | High |
Vegetation types
Type | Coverage (%) |
Emergent | 76 - 95 |
Shrubby / Arborescent | 5 - 25 |
Wet meadow | 5 - 25 |
Other | |
Other | 5 - 25 |
Flora
Species | Presence status | References |
Arundo donax | ||
Ceratonia siliqua | ||
Juncus sp. | ||
Mirabilis jalapa var. odorata | ||
Olea europaea | ||
Opuntia ficus-indica | ||
Oxalis pes-caprae | ||
Ricinus communis | ||
Tamarix sp. | ||
Typha domingensis |
Fauna
Amphibians |
Presence status in wetland |
References |
|
Pelophylax bedriagae (Camerano, 1882) |