The plant communities of Ghallis, Malta

Abstract

Plants inhabit and create dynamic communities, which when studied closely, reveal many aspects as regards to how and why they grow within certain areas. Plant communities have diverse variations of which may occur due to seasonality, site, location and climate to name a few. These communities themselves usually have one or more species that act as the dominant population/s regulating overall population growth and abundance of other species. This is the situation found at Ghalis. Having a narrow strip of coastline at such, proximate exposure to the natural elements do undoubtedly make conditions harsh for any living organism to survive such an environment. Nevertheless, Ghallis is constantly covered with varying vegetation types, of which Inula crithmoides seems to dominate. Thus, the goal of this study is to understand the plant community within Ghallis and to affirm Inula crithmoides as in fact the dominant and/or determinant plant population within the plant community itself. This study will provide a descriptive based knowledge of the vegetation at Ghallis of which no previous study has fully conducted.