Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetalhttp://hdl.handle.net/10396/842024-03-28T10:25:48Z2024-03-28T10:25:48ZImpacts of climate change on airborne Quercus pollen trends in Andalusia region (southern Spain)Alcázar, PurificaciónTorres, CarmenLinares, Concepción DeGonzález Minero, F.J.Ruiz Valenzuela, LuisPicornell, AntonioGalán, Carmenhttp://hdl.handle.net/10396/277312024-03-23T03:00:51Z2024-01-01T00:00:00ZImpacts of climate change on airborne Quercus pollen trends in Andalusia region (southern Spain)
Alcázar, Purificación; Torres, Carmen; Linares, Concepción De; González Minero, F.J.; Ruiz Valenzuela, Luis; Picornell, Antonio; Galán, Carmen
Quercus species are the most frequent autochthonous arboreal taxa in the natural areas of Andalusia region (southern Spain). Due to their abundance and anemophilous character, high airborne pollen concentrations are detected in natural and urban areas of the region. Variations in its reproductive phenology can be considered an important bio-indicator regarding the impacts of climate change on vegetation in the Mediterranean region. This study aims to analyze trends in flowering patterns using airborne pollen concentrations from the capital cities of the 8 provinces of Andalusia region and to study its relationships with meteorological parameters and climate change over decades. Variations in time and intensity of flowering have been studied using different methods for defining the pollen season. This study demonstrates that for comparing results, it is relevant to choose the right definition to calculate the pollen season. The analysis of historical databases of Quercus airborne pollen in Andalusia showed variations in the floral phenology with an increase in the intensity of the pollen season throughout the studied period and an advance in the start trends due to the increase of temperature. Nevertheless, this increase might have been smoothed by the decrease of precipitations in some sampler locations, a limiting factor in the area. It has been also observed a delay in the end dates that caused a lengthening of the season. Climate change could be provoking longer and more intense pollen seasons that will lead to more intense and persistent symptoms in sensitive patients.
2024-01-01T00:00:00ZEffects of input data sources on species distribution model predictions across species with different distributional rangesArenas Castro, SalvadorRegos, AdriánMartins, IvoneHonrado, JoãoAlonso, Joaquimhttp://hdl.handle.net/10396/277112024-03-21T03:00:49Z2022-01-01T00:00:00ZEffects of input data sources on species distribution model predictions across species with different distributional ranges
Arenas Castro, Salvador; Regos, Adrián; Martins, Ivone; Honrado, João; Alonso, Joaquim
Aim: A major source of uncertainty in the application of species distribution models (SDMs) is related to input data quality. Citizen-collected species occurrence data are often used for fitting SDMs when data from standardized and expert-supported surveys are unavailable. Macroclimate variables are much more commonly used as predictors in SDMs than other sources coming from remote sensing data. Here, we assess the effects of using different data sources (in both response and predictor variables) on SDM per formance across a wide range of species with contrasting distributional ranges.
Location: Iberian Peninsula.
Taxon: Birds.
Methods: A SDM ensemble-forecasting approach was implemented using bird data from two different data sources: the eBird project and Atlases. We fitted SDMs with three predictor types: macroclimate, remotely sensed ecosystem functional attrib utes (EFAs) and their combination. Species were grouped in four range size classes. We assessed the uncertainty of model predictions by different evaluation metrics. Generalized linear mixed-effects models tested the effect on model performance of input data source across distributional range sizes while accounting for different ac curacy metrics. Pairwise comparisons between range projections were used to assess their spatial similarity.
Results: Data source, size class, predictor and accuracy metric showed significant ef fects on SDM performance. eBird-based models outperformed those built with Atlas data for less widespread species. Climate predictors yielded models with the best performance, especially when combined with EFAs. However, the predictor contribu tion was consistent across bird datasets, being mostly driven by the species range.
Main Conclusions: Our models demonstrated the usefulness and complementarity of different input data sources when modelling species distribution across different distributional ranges. These findings highlight the need to integrate different data sources to improve the model predictions at regional scale. Our framework also un derlines that model uncertainty should be examined more exhaustively at early stages of the modelling process.
2022-01-01T00:00:00ZParietaria major allergens vs pollen in the air we breatheLinares, Concepción DeAlcázar, PurificaciónValle, Ana M.Díaz de la Guardia, ConsueloGalán, Carmenhttp://hdl.handle.net/10396/276522024-03-09T03:01:02Z2019-01-01T00:00:00ZParietaria major allergens vs pollen in the air we breathe
Linares, Concepción De; Alcázar, Purificación; Valle, Ana M.; Díaz de la Guardia, Consuelo; Galán, Carmen
Background
Parietaria and Urtica are the genera from the Urticaceae family more frequent in Mediterranean and Atlantic areas. Moreover, both genera share pollination periods, and their pollen (of the main species) is so similar that there is no aerobiological evidence of the proportion of each of them in the airborne pollen identification, except in the case of U. membranacea. However, Parietaria is one of the most important causes of pollinosis and Urtica is not. Our aim is determine if airborne Urticaceae pollen concentrations show the aerodynamics of the two major allergens of Parietaria (Par j 1 and Par j 2) as well as the allergen distribution in the different-sized particles.
Methods
The air was sampled during the pollination period of Urticaceae using Hirst Volumetric Sampler and Andersen Cascade Impactor in two cities of Southern Spain (Córdoba and Granada). The samples were analysed by the methodology proposed by the Spanish Aerobiology Network (REA) and the minimum requirements of the European Aeroallergen Society (EAS) for pollen, and by ELISA immunoassay for allergens.
Results
The patterns of airborne pollen and Par j 1-Par j 2 were present in the air during the studied period, although with irregular oscillations. Urticaceae pollen and Par j 1-Par j 2 allergens located in PM2.5 showed positive and significant correlation during the period with maximum concentrations (March to April).
Conclusion
Parietaria aeroallergens show similar pattern of Urticaceae airborne pollen. Urticaceae pollen calendar is as a good tool for allergy prevention. On the other hand, important concentrations of Par j 1 and Par j 2 were located in the breathable fraction (PM2.5), which could explain the asthmatic symptoms in the allergic population to Parietaria.
2019-01-01T00:00:00ZAirborne Cupressaceae Pollen and Its Major Allergen, Cup a 1, in Urban Green Areas of Southern Iberian PeninsulaLinares, Concepción DePlaza, María PilarValle, Ana M.Alcázar, PurificaciónDíaz de la Guardia, ConsueloGalán, Carmenhttp://hdl.handle.net/10396/275082024-02-17T03:01:00Z2021-01-01T00:00:00ZAirborne Cupressaceae Pollen and Its Major Allergen, Cup a 1, in Urban Green Areas of Southern Iberian Peninsula
Linares, Concepción De; Plaza, María Pilar; Valle, Ana M.; Alcázar, Purificación; Díaz de la Guardia, Consuelo; Galán, Carmen
Cupressaceae pollen is responsible for winter respiratory allergies in the Mediterranean
area. Pollen grains of this diverse family share the same characteristics under light microscopy.
Consequently, the partial contribution of each Cupressaceae species to the airborne pollen spectrum
cannot be determined with conventional aerobiological methods. Studies on major aeroallergens offer
better information on the allergic sensitization and appearance of symptoms in patients sensitized to
airborne pollen and spores. Our aim was to determine if airborne Cupressaceae pollen concentrations
correspond to aerodynamics of the major allergen of Cupressus (Cup a 1), as well as the aeroallergen
correlation with different-sized particles. The air was sampled in two cities of Southern Spain
(Granada and Córdoba) using the Hirst-type volumetric sampler for airborne pollen detection
during 2006 to 2008 and the Andersen Cascade Impactor for aeroallergen detection during the
main pollination period of Cupressaceae in the same period. The samples were analyzed by the
methodology proposed by the Spanish Aerobiology Network (REA), the minimum requirements of
the European Aeroallergen Society (EAS) for pollen, and by ELISA immunoassay to detect airborne
Cup a 1. The distribution patterns of airborne Cupressaceae pollen and Cup a 1 were observed
throughout the sampling period, although with some irregular oscillations. Cupressaceae pollen and
Cup a 1 showed positive and significant correlation during the period of maximum concentrations
(January to March). However, the results of this study showed that the period of exposure of
aeroallergens depends on the Cupressus species and their abundance in cities. According to the
allergy potential obtained, species like C. arizonica could release more allergens than other species
like C. sempervirens.
2021-01-01T00:00:00Z