Sandy beaches symposium

Alan Deidun, a senior lecturer at the International Ocean Institute-Malta Operational Centre, recently attended the Sixth International Symposium on Sandy Beaches at Mpekweni, South Africa.

He delivered two presentations on research he took part in on aspects related to genetic and morphological analyses of beach macrofaunal populations.

The research was funded by the University’s research committee and will eventually be published in a special issue of the Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science journal.

The symposium is held every three years and drew leading beach ecologists from around the world, including Anton Mclachlan, Eduardo Jaramillo, Ron Nel, Jenny Dugan and Dave Hubbard.

Among other beach ecology-related topics addressed at the event were the ecological impacts of beach nourishment and sea grass grooming, climate change impacts on sandy beaches and the application of ecosystem-based management to sandy beaches.

The proceedings and other details of the symposium may be viewed at www.sandybeach2012.com/Home.