Abstract
The aim of this study is to supply detailed information about oak (Quercus sp.) pollen seasons in Poznań, Poland, based on a 16-year aerobiological data series (1996–2011). The pollen data were collected using a volumetric spore trap of the Hirst design located in Poznań city center. The limits of the pollen seasons were calculated using the 95 % method. The influence of meteorological parameters on temporal variations in airborne pollen was examined using correlation analysis. Start and end dates of oak pollen seasons in Poznań varied markedly from year-to-year (14 and 17 days, respectively). Most of the pollen grains (around 75 % of the seasonal pollen index) were recorded within the first 2 weeks of the pollen season. The tenfold variation was observed between the least and the most intensive pollen seasons. These fluctuations were significantly related to the variation in the sum of rain during the period second fortnight of March to first fortnight of April the year before pollination (r = 0.799; p < 0.001). During the analyzing period, a significant advance in oak pollen season start dates was observed (−0.55 day/year; p = 0.021), which was linked with an increase in the mean temperature during the second half of March and first half of April (+0.2 °C; p = 0.014). Daily average oak pollen counts correlated positively with mean and maximum daily temperatures, and negatively with daily rainfall and daily mean relative humidity.
Highlights
Oak (Quercus sp.) is of economic importance and as such is one of the most desirable broad-leaved trees in Polish forests (Boratynska et al 2006)
In 2006 and 2010, the onset of the oak pollen season was observed during the third week of April (111 DOY), whereas in 1997, the oak pollen season started at the beginning of May (125 DOY)
This study shows a clear relationship (r = -0.707; p \ 0.01) between start dates of Quercus pollen seasons recorded in Poznanand spring temperatures, i.e., mean temperature from the second half of March to the first half of April
Summary
Oak (Quercus sp.) is of economic importance and as such is one of the most desirable broad-leaved trees in Polish forests (Boratynska et al 2006). Three native species of oaks, i.e., pedunculate oak (Q. robur), sessile oak (Q. petraea) and downy oak (Q. pubescens), occur in Poland. The distribution of the latter is limited to an isolated stand near to the Oder River (Zajac and Zajac 2001). Q. robur grows mainly in the oak-hornbeam forests on fertile loam soil whereas Q. petraea occupied more thermophilous and acidophilus oakwoods (Matuszkiewicz 2011). The most common species occurring in green spaces in Poznanis pedunculate oak (Jackowiak 1993). Apart from three native Quercus species, red oak (Q. rubra) was introduced to Poland from North America and is currently widespread in forest ecosystems (Woziwoda et al 2012)
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