<i>Pinus</i> Pollen Emission Patterns in Different Bioclimatic Areas of the Iberian Peninsula

Background: In the Northern Hemisphere, pine forests predominate due to their natural distribution and silvicultural importance. <i>Pinus</i> tree species are large pollen producers. Nowadays, the context of climate change influences their distribution, abundance, growth and productivity...

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Main Authors: María Fernández-González, Beatriz Lara, Estefanía González-Fernández, Jesús Rojo, Rosa Pérez-Badia, Fco. Javier Rodríguez-Rajo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
Series:Forests
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/6/688
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author María Fernández-González
Beatriz Lara
Estefanía González-Fernández
Jesús Rojo
Rosa Pérez-Badia
Fco. Javier Rodríguez-Rajo
author_facet María Fernández-González
Beatriz Lara
Estefanía González-Fernández
Jesús Rojo
Rosa Pérez-Badia
Fco. Javier Rodríguez-Rajo
author_sort María Fernández-González
collection DOAJ
description Background: In the Northern Hemisphere, pine forests predominate due to their natural distribution and silvicultural importance. <i>Pinus</i> tree species are large pollen producers. Nowadays, the context of climate change influences their distribution, abundance, growth and productivity. The objectives of the study were to assess the patterns of the <i>Pinus</i> flowering behavior regarding their pollen presence in the atmosphere and intensity in different bioclimatic areas of the Iberian Peninsula during recent years. Methods: The survey was carried out in three different biogeographic zones of Spain: Vigo (Eurosiberian region) and Ourense (transition area between the Eurosiberian and Mediterranean areas) located in northwest Spain and Toledo (Mediterranean area) placed in the center of the Iberian Peninsula. Airborne pollen was collected with volumetric traps in each study area from 1995 to 2019. Results: <i>Pinus</i> pollen showed a marked single pollination period during late March in the Eurosiberian region and April in the transition zone between the Eurosiberian and the Mediterranean area. Two different peaks with lower pollen intensity were detected during the pollen season in Toledo (Mediterranean area), the first during late March and the second from the end of May to the beginning of June. The trends detected revealed changes in the timing of the phenological cycle, such us longer pollen seasons and later end dates of the Main Pollen Season (MPS) in some cases. The mean Annual Pollen Integral (API) in the Eurosiberian area (Vigo) and transition zone (Ourense) was similar, with about 4400 pollen grains. In the Mediterranean area (Toledo), a lower API amount of 1618 pollen grains was recorded. A trend towards an increase of 126 and 80 pollen grains per year in the airborne pine load was detected in the transition and Mediterranean areas studied, respectively. Conclusions: The rates of the annual integral <i>Pinus</i> pollen percentage with respect to the total pollen of forest species in the atmosphere of the areas studied showed a decreasing percentage trend during the last years.
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spelling doaj.art-7c5c4dcb897b4497b08bea1c9f1fbec92023-11-21T21:42:05ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072021-05-0112668810.3390/f12060688<i>Pinus</i> Pollen Emission Patterns in Different Bioclimatic Areas of the Iberian PeninsulaMaría Fernández-González0Beatriz Lara1Estefanía González-Fernández2Jesús Rojo3Rosa Pérez-Badia4Fco. Javier Rodríguez-Rajo5Department of Plant Biology and Soil Sciences, University of Vigo, 32004 Ourense, SpainInstitute of Environmental Sciences—Botany, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, SpainDepartment of Plant Biology and Soil Sciences, University of Vigo, 32004 Ourense, SpainInstitute of Environmental Sciences—Botany, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, SpainInstitute of Environmental Sciences—Botany, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, SpainDepartment of Plant Biology and Soil Sciences, University of Vigo, 32004 Ourense, SpainBackground: In the Northern Hemisphere, pine forests predominate due to their natural distribution and silvicultural importance. <i>Pinus</i> tree species are large pollen producers. Nowadays, the context of climate change influences their distribution, abundance, growth and productivity. The objectives of the study were to assess the patterns of the <i>Pinus</i> flowering behavior regarding their pollen presence in the atmosphere and intensity in different bioclimatic areas of the Iberian Peninsula during recent years. Methods: The survey was carried out in three different biogeographic zones of Spain: Vigo (Eurosiberian region) and Ourense (transition area between the Eurosiberian and Mediterranean areas) located in northwest Spain and Toledo (Mediterranean area) placed in the center of the Iberian Peninsula. Airborne pollen was collected with volumetric traps in each study area from 1995 to 2019. Results: <i>Pinus</i> pollen showed a marked single pollination period during late March in the Eurosiberian region and April in the transition zone between the Eurosiberian and the Mediterranean area. Two different peaks with lower pollen intensity were detected during the pollen season in Toledo (Mediterranean area), the first during late March and the second from the end of May to the beginning of June. The trends detected revealed changes in the timing of the phenological cycle, such us longer pollen seasons and later end dates of the Main Pollen Season (MPS) in some cases. The mean Annual Pollen Integral (API) in the Eurosiberian area (Vigo) and transition zone (Ourense) was similar, with about 4400 pollen grains. In the Mediterranean area (Toledo), a lower API amount of 1618 pollen grains was recorded. A trend towards an increase of 126 and 80 pollen grains per year in the airborne pine load was detected in the transition and Mediterranean areas studied, respectively. Conclusions: The rates of the annual integral <i>Pinus</i> pollen percentage with respect to the total pollen of forest species in the atmosphere of the areas studied showed a decreasing percentage trend during the last years.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/6/688pine forestsaerobiologyairborne pollenpollination periodmeteorological variablestrends
spellingShingle María Fernández-González
Beatriz Lara
Estefanía González-Fernández
Jesús Rojo
Rosa Pérez-Badia
Fco. Javier Rodríguez-Rajo
<i>Pinus</i> Pollen Emission Patterns in Different Bioclimatic Areas of the Iberian Peninsula
Forests
pine forests
aerobiology
airborne pollen
pollination period
meteorological variables
trends
title <i>Pinus</i> Pollen Emission Patterns in Different Bioclimatic Areas of the Iberian Peninsula
title_full <i>Pinus</i> Pollen Emission Patterns in Different Bioclimatic Areas of the Iberian Peninsula
title_fullStr <i>Pinus</i> Pollen Emission Patterns in Different Bioclimatic Areas of the Iberian Peninsula
title_full_unstemmed <i>Pinus</i> Pollen Emission Patterns in Different Bioclimatic Areas of the Iberian Peninsula
title_short <i>Pinus</i> Pollen Emission Patterns in Different Bioclimatic Areas of the Iberian Peninsula
title_sort i pinus i pollen emission patterns in different bioclimatic areas of the iberian peninsula
topic pine forests
aerobiology
airborne pollen
pollination period
meteorological variables
trends
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/6/688
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