Influence of weather-related factors on pollen production in forest tree species in Austria

Turku

University of Turku

2008

S. 28

Unselbständiges Werk

200149020

4th ESA 2008 Abstracts : The 4th European Symposium on Aerobiology 12-16 August 2008 University of Turku, Finland, S. 28

Aerobiology is the study of the atmospheric dispersal of airborne, fungus spores, pollen grains and micro-organisms. However, aerobiological observations are not only important in medical science, but also in forestry. Trees have to produce pollen and seeds to disseminate genes to the next generation and to maintain reproduction and regeneration. The BFW (Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape) runs 21 pollen traps since 1988. These pollen traps are distributed all over Austria encompassing different regions and altitudes. All pollen data are usually recorded approximately from February to June, whereas the exact start and end of pollen counting depends on favourable weather conditions for pollination. Climate data for all pollen traps are provided by ZAMG (Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie) und Geodynamik). Weather-related factors like temperature, precipitation and relative humidity are correlated with pollen data in order to compare the influence of climate conditions on different tree species in Austria. Particularly, since pollen traps are exposed on Sites of very different environmental conditions comparisons will not only be carried at the national-wide scale, but also on Iower geographical scales (local, regional). Furthermore, threshold values of pollen production of selected tree species are determined statistically using regression models. The results are discussed in the context of the global climate change phenomenon.