Airborne Ericaceae Pollen Grains in the Atmosphere of Vigo (Northwest Spain) and Its Relationship with Meteorological Factors

Abstract

Several species of the Erica genus are broadly represented in northwest Spain, being among the shrubs that form the substitution stage following forest degradation as a result of human activity, caused mainly by fire or other antrophic causes. Therefore airborne pollen from Erica is frequent. From 1995 to 2002, an aerobiological study of Ericaceae family pollen was undertaken in the atmosphere of the city of Vigo (Northwest Spain) using a Lanzoni VPPS 2000 (Lanzoni srl, Bologna, Italy) sampler placed in the left margin of the Vigo fiord (42°14'15'' N, 8°43'30'' W). Despite being a taxon of eminently entomophillous pollination, the pollen of Ericaceae was well represented in the atmosphere above the study zone. Erica arborea L. is the main species represented in the annual pollen curve. This taxon shows a long main pollen season and higher pollen concentrations were recorded during the months of April and May, which is why beekeepers place their beehives at specific locations in April to ensure a considerable contribution from this pollen to the composition of the honey. The maximum daily average concentration was detected in 1997, with a concentration of 156 grains/m 3 . Throughout the day, maximum values occur at 5/6 h and between 17:00 and 18:00 h. Finally, correlation statistical analyses were developed in order to determine the degree of association between the daily average of meteorological parameters and daily mean airborne pollen concentrations. Rainfall exerts a clear influence on Ericaceae pollen season characteristics, with precipitation registered in March being responsible for the decrease in total annual pollen values.

Pollen counts and their relationship to meteorological factors in Ankara, Turkey during 2005–2008

“…A correlation between the start of the pollination season for Cryptomeria japonica (L.) D. Don and average daily temperature was found in Japan (Teranishi et al 2006). In another study, a positive correlation between Ericaceae pollens and daily temperature was found throughout the entire year in Northwest Spain, when limited to months with maximum pollen counts, in which a positive correlation was found with daily temperature and Southwest wind (Rodríguez-Rajo et al 2005).…”

Phytase activity in lichens

“…Our initial demonstration of InsP 6 release from lily pollen now requires confirmatory studies with pollen from ecologically relevant tree species together with analysis of canopy throughfall collected during the pollen season. Dwarf shrubs in the Ericaceae and Empetraceae that are characteristic of heathlands are predominantly insectpollinated and emit smaller quantities of pollen (Rodr ıguez-Rajo et al, 2005), whereas pollen of the Graminaceae tested by contained negligible InsP 6 . Hence, in the heathland habitats of C. portentosa pollen deposition might be a less significant source of nutrients for lichens.…”

Seed hairs of poplar trees as natural airborne pollen trap for allergenic pollen grains

“…There is a positive correlation between the temperature and the concentration of airborne pollen. Rainfall or low temperature normally causes a decrease in pollen concentration (Kadocsa & Juhász, 2002;Green et al, 2004;Peternel et al, 2004;Rodríguez-Rajo et al, 2005) resulting in a lower incidence of pollinosis (Altintas et al, 2004). In Beijing during May the mean temperature is 16 -20˚C and the mean precipitation is 50 -70 mm, which are quite favourable for a high incidence of hay fever.…”