Title:  A Study of Dune Morphology and Vegetation

Location:  Ramla l-Hamra Bay (Gozo) or Ghajn Tuffieha Bay

Aims:

• To investigate the dune morphology of the area.  

• To study the type and amount of vegetation cover on the dunes.

Equipment:

• Measuring tape

• Sketching paper

•  Quadrants

• Camera

• Map of the area

Method:

1. Go on site and use the procedure for beach profiling, to draw a cross-section of the sand dunes.

2. Make a simple sketch of the dune system observed.  Remember to label your diagram and also include some measurements where adequate.

3. Using the quadrant (0.5m by 0.5m would be ideal) observe the vegetation cover of the sand dune.

4. Calculate the percentage of vegetation cover. (Throw the quadrant and calculate the percentage of the quadrant that is covered with vegetation.)

5. Using books about Maltese flora, classify the vegetation on the sand dune. You can also try to identify the dominant plant.

 Conclusion:

• Put all your data in a table as shown below:

 Date:________________

Area Studied: ___________________ 

• Write a report on all your findings.  Remember to include a site map, all the sketches and pictures and the primary data.

• Throughout your report, you can refer to them and thus making your report easier to understand.

Further tips:

•  Keep in mind that sand dunes are a very delicate environment.  Thus, be VERY careful while carrying out your field study.  Make sure not to trample over or harm in any way plants or animals.

• Never cut any plants to use as an example in your report.  The same effect can be achieved with a camera.

• While conducting the fieldwork, be as accurate as possible to avoid bias.

Recommendations:   

• Ramla l-Hamra Bay in Gozo, is the best example of sand dune community in the Maltese Islands. These are considered of unique ecological value, as they are the only dunes that have not been majorly degraded by human pressure.  Their location in the mouth of the valley makes them more secluded and so more sheltered.

• In Ghadira Bay, the sand dunes have been cut through by the construction of the main road.  So they are not as intact as those at Ramla l-Hamra.  However, this area could be more easily accessible to Maltese students.  Once there, you could also make a visit to Ghadira’s nature reserve and list the information you gather there in another section of your project.