Alternative statistical methods for interpreting airborne Alder (Alnus glutimosa (L.) Gaertner) pollen concentrations

  • Zulima González Parrado
  • Rosa M. Valencia Barrera
  • Carmen R. Fuertes Rodríguez
  • Ana M. Vega Maray
  • Rafael Pérez Romero
  • Roberto Fraile
  • Delia Fernández González
Review
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

This paper reports on the behaviour of Alnus glutinosa (alder) pollen grains in the atmosphere of Ponferrada (León, NW Spain) from 1995 to 2006. The study, which sought to determine the effects of various weather-related parameters on Alnus pollen counts, was performed using a volumetric method. The main pollination period for this taxon is January–February. Alder pollen is one of the eight major airborne pollen allergens found in the study area. An analysis was made of the correlation between pollen counts and major weather-related parameters over each period. In general, the strongest positive correlation was with temperature, particularly maximum temperature. During each period, peak pollen counts occurred when the maximum temperature fell within the range 9°C–14°C. Finally, multivariate analysis showed that the parameter exerting the greatest influence was temperature, a finding confirmed by Spearman correlation tests. Principal components analysis suggested that periods with high pollen counts were characterised by high maximum temperature, low rainfall and an absolute humidity of around 6 g m−3. Use of this type of analysis in conjunction with other methods is essential for obtaining an accurate record of pollen-count variations over a given period.

Keywords

Alnus pollen Aerobiology Meteorological parameters Correlations Principal components analysis 
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Notes

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank the Enviromental Office of Ponferrada Municipal Government.

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Copyright information

© ISB 2008

Authors and Affiliations

  • Zulima González Parrado
    • 1
  • Rosa M. Valencia Barrera
    • 1
  • Carmen R. Fuertes Rodríguez
    • 1
  • Ana M. Vega Maray
    • 1
  • Rafael Pérez Romero
    • 1
  • Roberto Fraile
    • 2
  • Delia Fernández González
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of Biodiversity and Environmental Management (Botany)University of LeónLeónSpain
  2. 2.Department of Applied PhysicsUniversity of LeónLeónSpain

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