The patterns of Corylus and Alnus pollen seasons and pollination periods in two Polish cities located in different climatic regions

Abstract

This study compares phenological observations of Corylus (hazel) and Alnus (alder) flowering with airborne pollen counts of these taxa recorded using volumetric spore traps (2009–2011). The work was carried out in the Polish cities of Szczecin and Rzeszów that are located in different climatic regions. Correlations between pollen concentrations and meteorological data were investigated using Spearman’s rank correlation analysis. The timings of hazel and alder pollination and the occurrence of airborne pollen varied greatly and were significantly influenced by meteorological conditions (p < 0.05). The flowering synchronization of hazel and alder pollination in Szczecin and Rzeszów varied over the study period. Hazel and alder trees flowered notably earlier in stands located in places that were exposed to sunlight (insolated) and sheltered from the wind. On the other hand, a delay in the timing of pollination was observed in quite sunny but very windy sites. In Rzeszów, maximum hazel pollen concentrations did not coincide with the period of full pollination (defined as between 25 % hazel and alder and 75 % of flowers open). Conversely, in Szczecin, the highest hazel pollen concentrations were recorded during phenophases of the full pollination period. The period when the highest alder pollen concentrations were recorded varied between sites, with Rzeszów recording the highest concentrations at the beginning of pollination and Szczecin recording alder pollen throughout the full pollination period. Substantial amounts of hazel and alder pollen grains were recorded in the air of Rzeszów (but not Szczecin) before the onset of the respective pollen seasons.

The impact of meteorological conditions on the concentration of alder pollen in Sosnowiec (Poland) in the years 1997–2017

“…The statistical analysis of the dependence between the daily alder pollen concentration and the weather conditions confirmed the results also obtained by other authors (Jato et al 2002; Rodríguez-Rajo et al 2003; Puc 2007; Myszkowska et al 2007; González Parrado et al 2009; Puc and Kasprzyk 2013; Dahl et al 2013; Stępalska et al 2016; Borycka and Kapsrzyk 2018; Bruffaerts et al 2018). Statistically significant, positive correlation coefficients were obtained for the maximum, minimum, ground, and average temperatures in the pollen season.…”

Spatiotemporal models for predicting high pollen concentration level of Corylus, Alnus, and Betula

“…Spatial analyses in aerobiology mainly involve the following: the comparison between two or more different localizations (Stach et al 2008; Puc and Kasprzyk 2013; Sauliene et al 2014); the description of spatial variation of pollen season properties or pollen concentrations (Emberlin et al 2002; Rieux et al 2008; Myszkowska et al 2010; Nowosad et al 2015); or the investigation of pollen transportation using back trajectories (Skjoth et al2008, 2009; Veriankaite et al2009; Rojo and Pérez-Badia 2015). There have been only a few studies in which spatial models of Betula pollen count were built.…”

Unusually early flowering of alder in Vienna: first report of Alnus × spaethii in Austria, combined LM and SEM study of alder species and impact on pollen allergy sufferers

“…Moreover, the temperature influences the alder pollen concentration in the air (Frenguelli et al 1991;Myszkowska et al 2010;Puc and Kasprzyk 2013). Conditions that favour earlier flowering are exposure to sunlight and isolation from wind (Puc and Kasprzyk 2013). Despite the early flowering of A.…”

“…9 spaethii is known to flower around Christmas in Switzerland , and A. incana is known to flower up to 3 weeks prior to A. glutinosa if grown in the same habitat (Pancer-Kotejowa and Zarzycki 1980). Moreover, the temperature influences the alder pollen concentration in the air (Frenguelli et al 1991;Myszkowska et al 2010;Puc and Kasprzyk 2013). Conditions that favour earlier flowering are exposure to sunlight and isolation from wind (Puc and Kasprzyk 2013).…”

“…Different species-specific requirements in meteorological and ecological parameters have been discussed, but not confirmed up to now (Douda et al 2014). Concerning the variations in alder pollen concentrations in the air, it is known that temperature is the most important factor (Frenguelli et al 1991;Myszkowska et al 2010;Puc and Kasprzyk 2013). Alder pollen was investigated in detail as early as 1953 (Erdtman 1953).…”