The effect of recent climatic trends on Urticaceae pollination in two bioclimatically different areas in the Iberian Peninsula: Malaga and Vigo

Abstract

Malaga (Mediterranean coast) and Vigo (Atlantic coast) are representative of two bioclimatically different areas belonging to the Mediterranean and the Eurosiberian region, respectively. This contribution represents a study on recent trends in the principal meteorological parameters in these areas and their influence on the phenology of Urticaceae (nettle family) atmospheric pollen, one of the main causes of pollinosis in Spain. The study covers the period 1991-2006 for Malaga and 1995-2005 for Vigo, and compares the differences in climate and phenological behaviour observed at both localities. The sampling of atmospheric pollen was performed with Hirst volumetric pollen traps. The two localities present different tendencies as far as temperature is concerned: while the mean annual temperature in the Mediterranean region has increased by 0.06°C/year, the same parameter has decreased in the Atlantic area by 0.1°C/year. This tendency is even more pronounced as far as the minimum temperatures are concerned, especially during spring in Malaga and autumn in Vigo. On the other hand, wind speed has tended to increase, periods of calm have diminished and winds blowing off the sea have increased in both places. These changes in meteorological parameters have advanced the end of the pollen season in Malaga and delayed its start in Vigo. Total annual pollen counts have decreased in Vigo, while the number of pollen-free days has increased in both areas. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2009.