Fifteen international marine science researchers were in Malta for a BioDivMex workshop on Mediterranean marine biodiversity.
The participants attended lectures on topics such as phytoplankton and primary productivity, marine habitats around the Maltese islands, Mediterranean biogeography, cave and deep sea life, invasive species and effects of global change on marine biodiversity. They also viewed various demonstrations, including methods and techniques for studying marine caves, the water column and associated plankton, and seagrass and algal habitats.
The researchers were able to use facilities on board Ecoocean’s research vessel Mediterranean Explorer, which was brought over to Malta specifically for the workshop.
The participants also undertook laboratory examination and analyses of samples at the University’s Department of Biology.
The workshop was co-organised by the University’s Department of Biology, the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the international NGO Ecoocean.
It was a follow-up of previous workshops, the latest of which was held in Gozo in 2012.