Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1503368
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 9 JULY 2023 7 ALMANAC Nature Notebook 874. Snakelocks anemone WE can all tell an animal from a plant. Or can we? Some animals can be tricky, and one of these is the snakelocks anemone (M. ar- tikla ħadra). It looks like a tuft of alga stuck to a rock just below the shoreline, its (often) pink-tipped fronds swaying with the waves like grass in the wind. But anemones are very much animals, and those swaying things are not leaves but weaponised tentacles wait- ing to sting sea slugs or tiny fish that make contact. The stunned victim is then wafted down among the tentacles to be sucked into the waiting mouth – not typical plant behaviour that! Anemones are in fact closely related to jellyfish, only these opt for a sedentary lifestyle, with their tentacles facing up. And don't worry about be- ing blitzed by these creatures, their stinging cells are not normally strong enough to penetrate human skin. July Plant of the Month: Neptune Seagrass (MT: Alka) Po- sidonia oceanica Next time you visit a beach along the Mediterranean coast with Posidonia leaves washed ashore take some time to appreciate the incredible number of ecosystem and landscape services which this unique marine plant con- tributes to our region. The banquettes, which form especially after storms, are nature's way of defending our coast from erosion while providing the only humid microhabitat providing refuge for several species (some of which are also endemic in their own right). This plant's importance in- creases in its true realm – that of the underwater meadows which have been identified as a priority habitat type for conservation under the Habi- tats Directive in the EU. The Neptune Seagrass is a marine plant endemic to the Mediterranean Sea i.e. it is only found in this region (not including the Black Sea). Due to its Maltese name 'Alka' it is often thought to be an alga/seaweed but it is a true flowering plant – it has roots, stems and leaves and blooms underwater (occasionally producing fruits known as sea ol- ives). Its ribbon-like leaves can grow up to one metre long but are only one centimetre wide. For healthy growth it requires clear, nutrient-poor waters and it prefers conditions of stable salinity and temperature. This unique seagrass creates extensive underwater meadows of crucial im- portance for supporting an incredible array of biodiversity – it is home to around 1,000 animals and plants in the Mediterranean! Victor Falzon www.birdlifemalta.org Green idea of the week 762: Subscribe to our newsletter to https://foemalta.org/get-involved/newsletters-signup/ Visit Friends of the Earth's website for more information about our work, as well as information about how to join us. You can also support us by sending us a donation – www.foemalta.org/donate Don't miss this La Notte di San Lorenzo 9 August Place: Esplora Interactive Science Centre, Kalkara During La Notte di San Lorenzo you will have the opportunity to roam around the science centre with our knowledgeable staff members and watch the dark night be lit with vibrant colours from our outdoor areas overlooking the Grand Harbour. Apart from our morning opening hours 9:00am – 3:00pm, We will be opening our doors to welcome you between 7:30pm and 11:30pm. Complimentary tickets, Vouchers, or Discount offers will not be accepted for this event. *Please note that the Esplora Exhibition Building will remain open until 11.00 pm. Give nature a voice. Become a BirdLife member Isle of MTV Malta Music Week 2023 18-23 July Place: Around Malta The Isle of MTV Malta Music Week • Tue 18 July: Isle of MTV, il-Fosos Square • Tue 18 July: IOMTV Official Afterparty, Marrakech Gianpula • Wed 19 July: Club MTV presents Switch Disco, Toy Room Malta • Thur 20 July: IOMTV MMW Boat Party • Fri 21 July: G7 Fridays ft. DJs From Mars Fridays, Gianpula Mainroom • Sat 22 July: Day Pool Party at BORA BORA • Sat 22 July: Toy Room Saturdays at Toy Room Club • Sun 23 July: Cafe del Mar Special ft. Acraze A GOOD WEEK Good Week/Bad Week A BAD WEEK Miley Cyrus's Flowers is the biggest single of the year to date, says the Official Charts Company. The break- up anthem, which spent 10 weeks at number one earlier this year, has achieved 147 million streams and more than 80,000 downloads. Crumbling studios where Star Wars and The Crown were filmed need at least £150m to secure their future, according to a council report. Hertsmere Borough Council, which owns Elstree Studios, said the roofs of some stages are "dangerous". Raye's Escapism is 2023's second biggest- seller, while SZA's Kill Bill is in third place. It said the money is needed to replace "life-expired buildings", where asbestos has also been discovered.