Comparison of airborne herb pollen types in Córdoba (Southwestern Spain) and Poznan (Western Poland)

Abstract

This study sought to compare airborne pollen counts for a number of common herbaceous species (Plantago, Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae, Rumex, and Urticaceae) in two cities with differing weather conditions, Córdoba (Southwestern Spain) and Poznan (Western Poland). Pollen seasons for these species were studied from 1995 to 2005. Aerobiological sampling was performed using a Hirst type 7-day spore trap, in accordance with the procedure developed by the European Aerobiology Network. A Spearman correlation test was used to test for correlations between meteorological parameters and daily airborne pollen counts. The Spearman correlation test and the Wilcoxon signed ranks test were also used to compare mean daily pollen counts for the two study sites. In Córdoba, the pollen season generally started around two months earlier than in Poznan, and also lasted longer. These findings were attributed to the presence of a larger number of species in Córdoba, with overlapping pollen seasons, and also to more favorable weather conditions. Trends in pollen season start dates were fairly stable over the study period, with a slight tendency to delayed onset in Córdoba and a modest advance in start date in Poznan. The pollen season end date also remained reasonably stable over the study, with only a slight tendency for the season to end earlier in Córdoba and later in Poznan. A clear trend towards declining annual pollen counts was recorded over the study period for all pollen types in both cities.

Aerobiological behaviour of six anemophilous taxa in semi-arid environments of southern Europe (Almería, SE Spain)

“…Nevertheless, the pollination period lengthened and the concentrations increased when rainfall events occurred (Table 2). Similar results were found by Gehrig (2006) and Alcázar et al (2009), supporting the idea that the species forming part of this family need a threshold of soil moisture in order to flower (Guardia and Belmonte, 2004;Alcázar et al, 2009), so that the onset of MPS, generally in October, appears to be related to water surplus.…”

Trends in grass pollen season in southern Spain

“…However, little research has addressed grass pollen dynamics in this area over recent years (Alcázar et al 2009), and more particularly, the response of grass species to weatherrelated parameters. A recent study in Spain has shown that the variables governing the grass pollen start and peak dates are rainfall, air temperature and photoperiod (García-Mozo et al 2009).…”

Evaluation of Meteorological Parameters Influence Upon Pollen Spread in the Atmosphere / Meteorologinių Parametrų Įtakos Žiedadulkių Sklaidai Atmosferoje Įvertinimas / Оценка Влияния Метеорологических Параметро Вн Адисперсию Пыльцыв Атмосфере

“…Basing upon the results the precipitation amount may be included into meteorological factors limiting the pollen spread. When evaluating the significance of precipitation as a separate factor for the pollen spread in atmosphere, the scientists of European countries (Rodríguez-Rajo et al 2003;Gioulekas et al 2004;Alcázar et al 2009) present tendencies analogous to those determined by us.…”

“…When evaluating the general influence of meteorological conditions upon the pollen spread, air temperature, relative air humidity, amount of precipitation, wind velocity are included into complex factor (Rodríguez-Rajo et al 2003;Gioulekas et al 2004;Alcázar et al 2009). Moreover, the influence of every meteorological element upon the particular or several pollen types of plants genera (families) is specified in the research (Galán et al 2000;Rodríguez-Rajo et al 2003;Crimi et al 2004).…”

“…The former influence is analyzed in two ways: i.e. basing upon the statistic methods and comparing the data of pollen concentrations with meteorological data (Crimi et al 2004;Gioulekas et al 2004;Alcázar et al 2009) or using the models in which the possible influence of meteorological parameters upon pollen spread is described in equations (Andersen 1991;Laaidi 2001;Jato et al 2004;Smith and Emberlin 2006).…”