The effect of meteorological factors on the daily variation of airborne fungal spores in Granada (southern Spain)

Abstract

A study was made of the link between climatic factors and the daily content of certain fungal spores in the atmosphere of the city of Granada in 1994. Sampling was carried out with a Burkard 7-day-recording spore trap. The spores analysed corresponded to the taxa Alternaria, Ustilago and Cladosporium, with two morphologically different spore types in the latter genus, cladosporioides and herbarum. These spores were selected both for their allergenic capacity and for the high level of their presence in the atmosphere, particularly during the spring and autumn. The spores of Cladosporium were the most abundant (93.82% of the total spores identified). The Spearman correlation coefficients between the spore concentrations studied and the meteorological parameters show different indices depending on the taxon being analysed. Alternaria and Cladosporium are significantly correlated with temperature and hours of sunlight, while Ustilago shows positive correlation indices with relative humidity and negative indices with wind speed.

Ambient Fungal Spore Concentration in a Subtropical Metropolis: Temporal Distributions and Meteorological Determinants

“…Additionally, we observed a negative relationship between wind speed and fungal spore concentrations, similar to that found in previous studies (Sabariego et al, 2000;Ho et al, 2005;Quintero et al, 2010;Filali Ben Sidel et al, 2015). Wind speed affected the dispersion process of fungal spores, resulting in atmospheric dilution.…”

“…The diverse effects of sunlight have been reported in previous studies. In particular, some fungal taxa require sunlight to activate the growth and sporulation processes (Macher, 1999;Sabariego et al, 2000); however, high light intensity and longer exposure duration can damage fungal cells and lead to cell death (García-Fernández et al, 2012).…”

Dynamics (seasonal and intra-diurnal) of air-borne fungal spore population of Doha area, Qatar

“…On other hand, other studies found the wind speed might dilute fungal spore's concentrations in the air (Sabariego et al, 2000;Stennett & Beggs, 2004). Highest wind speed might bring to higher fungal spores concentration (Al Subai 2002;Jones & Harrison, 2004).…”

Primary biological aerosol particles in the atmosphere: a review

“…Dry-discharged spore concentrations tend to be enhanced during warm, dry weather conditions, whereas actively wet discharged spores tend to be enhanced during humid conditions such as those at night and in the early morning hours (Graham et al, 2003;Elbert et al, 2007). Emission and dispersal of fungal spores can thus be selectively correlated with various meteorological parameters and usually have specific behaviours, depending on the species involved (Fitt et al, 1989;Pasanen et al, 1991;Calderon et al, 1995;Katial et al, 1997;Sabariego et al, 2000;Troutt and Levetin, 2001;Burch and Leventin, 2002;Jones and Harrison, 2004;Grinn-Gofron and Mika, 2008;Oliviera et al, 2009).…”