Island wetlands of Malta

Wied tal-Qlejgħa (MAL026) is located within Ir-Rabat and Il-Mosta. Another part of this valley system, coded MAL030, has been included in the MedIsWet database and is located further upstream to MAL026. The site at MAL026 includes two main roads that cross over the wetland, these are Triq San Pawl tal-Qliegħa and Triq Buqana. The study area is similar to a rock-pool type environment. The site proper is a dammed watercourse. The watercourse is relatively shallow. Species include Eucalyptus trees, Foeniculum vulgare, Arundo donax, Piptatherum miliaceum, Hipparhenia hirta, Ricinus communis, Dittrichia viscosa, Aster squamatus and Acacia saligna indicating the disturbed nature from an ecological point of view of this part of the watercourse; this disturbed habitat can be described throughout the remainder of the site up to Buqana. There are pockets of typical watercourse species and species of interest. In this section, species of interest include Scirpoides holoschoenus. A small maquis-type community can be noted on the banks with some typical species including Erica multiflora, Olea europaea, Asparagus aphyllus and Prunis dulcis. Close to the boreholes Eucalyptus and Acacia trees are dominant; Scirpus holoschoenus is also present. As throughout most of this watercourse Arundo donax is also dominant. During the field visits it was noted that the water bodies were dominated by the Common Duckweed (Lemna minor L.); other typical watercourse species noted included Typha domingensis and Rumex conglomerates. Evidence of eutrophication was noted during the field visit. From an ecological point of view, this area is highly disturbed with Ricinus communis scrub and ruderals representing the dominant vegetation. Agricultural land surrounds this area.