/library/oar/handle/123456789/403 2026-08-06T00:19:35Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/148374 Title: Lessons learned : building the architecture for a legionella impact spectrum for Malta Authors: Rahimpour, Layla; Camilleri, Liberato; Gary, Lee P. Jr. Abstract: Our study was planned and launched with explicit motivation to identify the triggers that could launch a Legionella Disease outbreak in Malta, enjoying a boon with tourism. The triggers would be used to prepare a first-ever Legionella Impact Spectrum. Our research has generated early surprises, and we share them as Lessons Learned, but not easily. Our first Lesson Learned was that our work was stymied by missing data in the Maltese Annual Notifiable Infectious Disease Reports (2010-2024), a vital database, essential for surveillance and adequate preparedness. We have undertaken a search to fill the data gaps. We share our early analysis of Legionnaire cases and deaths in the Maltese Annual Reports for 2010-2024. Our surprise finding is a latent spike in Legionnaire cases for 2023-2024 --and gaps in deaths for the same years. Using data from the Maltese Annual Reports, we can project that the likelihood of someone dying (our Chance of Death) after contracting Legionnaire’s Disease in Malta falls in the range of 3.9% to 12.4%. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/148185 Title: Lessons learned from the “spot the alien” citizen science campaign (2022–2025) in Maltese waters and the second record of Cephalopholis hemistiktos in the Mediterranean Authors: Deidun, Alan; Prieto Gomez, Laura; Gauci, Adam; Zammit, Audrey; Ramirez Montano, David Fernando; Corsini-Foka, Maria; Zava, Bruno; Marrone, Alessio Abstract: Introduction: Citizen science is increasingly recognised as a valuable approach for monitoring marine non-indigenous species (NIS), range-expanding species (RES), and cryptogenic taxa. This study evaluates the outcomes of the Spot the Alien campaign in Maltese waters between 2022 and 2025. Methods: A total of 441 expert-validated records of 30 NIS, RES and cryptogenic species were analysed to assess temporal and spatial reporting patterns, species richness, habitat and observation-method associations, reporting hotspots, and the influence of outreach activities. Results: Reporting effort and species richness increased throughout the study, with 2025 yielding the highest number of records. Species accumulation and rarefaction analyses indicated that the campaign documented a substantial proportion of the detectable target fauna. Reporting patterns varied significantly among seasons, habitats, and observer groups, highlighting the influence of both ecological factors and reporting behaviour. The campaign also produced the second Mediterranean record of the Indo-Pacific grouper Cephalopholis hemistiktos. Discussion: The Spot the Alien campaign demonstrates that expert-validated citizen science can provide reliable, cost-effective support for the surveillance of marine bioinvasions. The findings highlight the importance of sustained public engagement, rigorous validation, and long-term monitoring to improve early detection and inform future citizen-science initiatives. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/148103 Title: Searching for information to build an impact spectrum for legionella bacteria in Malta Abstract: Our study was planned and launched with keen motivation to identiWing the triggers that could launch a Legionella Disease outbreak in Malta, enjoying a boon with tourism. Our research has generated early surprises, and we share them with this Opinion Paper. Our work was stymied by missing data in the Maltese Annual Notifiable Infectious Disease Reports (2010-2024), a vital data base, essential for surveillance and preparedness. We share our early analysis of Legionella cases and deaths in the Maltese Annual Reports for 2010-2024. Our surprise finding is a latent spike in Legionella cases for 2023-2024 and gaps in deaths for the same years. Using data from the Maltese Annual Re-ports, we can project that the likelihood of someone dying after contracting Legionnaire's Disease in Malta falls in the range of 3.9% to 12.4%. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/147852 Title: First record of the Devil Firefish Pterois Miles (Bennett, 1828) (Actinopterygii: Scorpaenidae) from Maltese coastal waters Authors: Deidun, Alan; Zava, Bruno; Corsini-Foka, Maria; Sciberras, Arnold; Marrone, Alessio Abstract: A specimen of the invasive Devil firefish, Pterois miles (Bennett, 1828), was recorded for the first time in Maltese waters in January 2026. The individual was caught by a recreational angler at Migraħ Ferħa (north-west Malta) at a depth of 10 m using a paternoster rig baited with squid. The fish was photographed and then released. This record marks a further expansion of the P. miles distribution in the central Mediterranean Sea and highlights the importance of citizen science initiatives in the early detection of marine non-indigenous species.; Un esemplare della specie invasiva Pterois miles (Bennett, 1828), nota come pesce scorpione o pesce leone, è stato segnalato per la prima volta nelle acque maltesi nel gennaio 2026. Il pesce è stato catturato da un pescatore sportivo a Migraħ Ferħa (costa nord-occidentale di Malta) a una profondit di 10 m, utilizzando una lenza paternoster provvista di calamaro come esca. Una volta fotografato, l’esemplare è stato rilasciato. Questa segnalazione rappresenta un ulteriore ampliamento della distribuzione di P. miles nel Mediterraneo centrale e sottolinea l’importanza delle iniziative di scienza partecipativa per l’individuazione precoce di specie marine non-indigene. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z