Abstract
A pollen calendar has been constructed for Malaga (Southern Spain) based on the data obtained during 5 years (1991–95) using a Burkard spore trap set up approximately 1 km west of the city. The calendar only reflects taxa which showed a 10-day mean pollen concentration equal to or greater than 1 grain of pollen/m3 of air. Twenty nine taxa are included, of which the three commonest (Olea europaea, Cupressaceae andQuercus) represent approximately 54% of the total annual count and the following four (Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae, Gramineae, Urticaceae andPlantago) represent 21.3%. The greatest diversity of pollen types occurs during Spring and the highest concentrations from February to June, when approximately 85% of the total annual pollen is registered. Several peaks occur during the year principally due to Cupressaceae in February,Quercus in April,Olea europaea in May andCasuarina in October, although substantial quantities of Urticaceae, Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae,Plantago and Gramineae are also detected in April and May. The pollination of important allergy-producing taxa such as olive and grass takes place earlier in Malaga than in cities more inland, so that the data presented here may be useful in predicting the beginning of the pollination season of these localities.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cabezudo B, Trigo MM, Recio M, Toro FJ. Contenido polinico de la atmósfera de Málaga: Años 1992 y 1993. Acta Bot Malacitana 1994;19:137–44.
Díaz de la Guardia C, Alonso R, Alba F, Valle F. Airborne grass pollen in Granada (Spain). Aerobiologia 1995;11:47–50.
Díaz de la Guardia C, Valle F, Alonso R, Romera R. Annual and diurnal variations in pollen fromOlea europaea L. in the atmosphere of Granada (Spain). J Invest Allergol Clin Immunol 1993;3:251–7.
Domínguez E, Galán C, Villamandos F, Infante F. Handling and evaluation of the data from the aerobiological sampling. Monografías REA/EAN 1991;1:1–18.
Domínguez E, Infante F, Galán C, Guerra F, Villamandos F. Variations in the concentrations of airborneOlea pollen and associated pollinosis in Córdoba (Spain): a study of the 10-year period 1982–1991. J Invest Allergol Clin Immunol 1993;3:121–9.
Domínguez E, Ubera JL, Galán C, Polen alergógeno de Córdoba. Publicaciones del Monte Piedad y Caja de Ahorros de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain, 1984.
Galán C, Cuevas J, Infante F, Domínguez E. Seasonal and diurnal variation of pollen from Gramineae in the atmosphere of Córdoba (Spain). Allergol Immunol 1989;17:245–9.
González Minero FJ, Candau P. Análisis del contenido polínico de la atmósfera de Huelva. Acta Bot Malacitana 1995;20:71–81.
González Romano ML, Candau P, González Minero FJ. Pollen calendar of Seville and its relation to allergies. J Invest Allergol Clin Immunol 1992;2:323–8.
Hirst JM. An automatic volumetric spore trap. Ann Appl Biol 1952;39:257–65.
Nilsson S, Spieksma F Th M, Traveller’s Allergy Service Guide. Swedish Museum of Natural History and Fisons Sweden AB, Sweden, 1992.
Recio M, Trigo MM, Toro FJ, Cabezudo B. Contenido polínico de la atmósfera de Málaga: año 1994. Acta Bot Malacitana 1995;20:83–90.
Spieksma F Th M. Regional european pollen calendars. In: D’Amato G, Spieksma FTh M, Bonini S, editors. Allergenic Pollen and Pollinosis in Europe. Oxford, London: Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1991;49–65.