Comparison of airborne Cupressaceae, Quercus and Poaceae pollen between Tulsa (Oklahoma) and Córdoba (Spain)

Abstract

This study focuses on the pollen season timing and intensity, and the influence of weather conditions, on airborne Cupressaceae, Quercus, and Poaceae pollen in two different biogeographical areas, Córdoba (Spain) and Tulsa, Oklahoma (USA), during 2010–2014. Pollen concentrations were recorded using Hirst-type spore traps. The meteorological parameters studied included temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and rainfall. This study aims to define the pollen seasons and their intensity and relationships with meteorological parameters in different biogeographical areas. The main pollen season (MPS) of each pollen type was divided into two periods: pre-peak and post-peak. The Shapiro–Wilk normality test was applied to the pollen concentrations and log transformed data were used. Pearson correlations and linear regression were applied for the pre-peak, post-peak, and MPS for comparing pollen concentrations with meteorological parameters considering both the same day and the previous day. Then, multiple regression analysis was applied with all the meteorological parameters that showed significant results in the linear regression. The models were validated through correlations between the measured and predicted pollen concentrations. The results showed a small difference in the MPS for the different pollen types at each site. Temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall influenced the pollen concentrations. The same day's meteorological parameters usually had a greater impact on the pollen concentration than the previous day's meteorological parameters; although, pollen concentrations for the next day could be forecasted considering the meteorological parameters forecasted for the present day. The pollen concentrations showed greater correlations with temperature.

Keywords:

• Airborne pollen
• meteorological parameters
• forecasting

Acknowledgements

The authors want to thank Claudia Owens, a technician, and several students in the Aerobiology Laboratory at the University of Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA, and the working group on Aerobiology and Phenology at the University of Córdoba, Spain, who helped with the pollen analysis.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or non-profit sectors.