Po PolskuLaboratory of Palaeoecology and Archaeobotany, Department of Plant Ecology and Nature Protection, Gdansk University, Gdansk, Poland
Published in: R. Spiewak (Editor): "Pollens and Pollinosis: Current Problems". Institute of Agricultural Medicine, Lublin (Poland) 1995, pages 21-22.
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The aim of this study is to characterize patterns in the fluctuations of some airborne pollens in the Three-town area. Both seasonal and diurnal variation of pollen concentration were considered.
Palynological data obtained from two sampling stations, placed at the height of 30 meters in Gdansk and Gdynia were analysed. The pollen record comes from the two following 1994 and 1995 years.
Pollen studies were carried out as a part of an aeropalynological monitoring project, by means of a Burkard apparatus, following the methods described by M. Hjelmroos (1994).
Observation of average weekly pollen concentrations as well as day-to-day and diurnal pollen counts proves to be a valuable source of information. However, finding the regularities in diurnal course of pollen concentration is a difficult task, due to different pollen release rhythms for individual species and modifications caused by changes in weather conditions (Käpylä 1981). Diurnal pattern of pollen concentration has been observed so far for two, out of several analysed species. During two investigated weeks of the main flowering period, the highest concentration of Urtica pollen occurs about midday (11 a.m. - 1 p.m.), while in the case of Poaceae there is a peak in the morning (8-9 a.m.) and another one late in the evening (9-11 p.m.).
From the allergological point of view, the fact that most of the plant species flowering in the spring and early summer like Alnus, Betula, Poaceae, Urtica release great amounts of pollen, is of importance. Typical for the pollen curves from this period are high pollen counts and rapid drops in pollen concentration, which may have been a result of meteorological conditions. Autumn time is characterized by a general decrease in pollen abundance (Plantago, Chenopodiaceae) and rather moderate course of pollen curves. In this period only Artemisia is showing high pollen productivity. Owing to frequent, strong winds a typical feature of pollen curves from the Three-town area is a sudden occurrence of considerable amount of pollen coming from species beyond the season of their flowering.
The results obtained so far show some interesting relations, however the long-term research to provide more valuable insight in this context is necessary.
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