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Earlier Flowering of Betula pendula Roth in Augsburg, Germany, Due to Higher Temperature, NO 2 and Urbanity, and Relationship with Betula spp. Pollen Season

Author

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  • Franziska Kolek

    (Department of Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
    Faculty of Applied Computer Sciences, Institute of Geography, University of Augsburg, 86159 Augsburg, Germany)

  • Maria Del Pilar Plaza

    (Department of Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
    Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Environmental Medicine, 86156 Augsburg, Germany)

  • Vivien Leier-Wirtz

    (Department of Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany)

  • Arne Friedmann

    (Faculty of Applied Computer Sciences, Institute of Geography, University of Augsburg, 86159 Augsburg, Germany)

  • Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann

    (Department of Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
    Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Environmental Medicine, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
    Christine Kühne Center for Allergy Research and Education (CK-CARE), 7265 Davos, Switzerland)

  • Athanasios Damialis

    (Department of Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
    Department of Ecology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

Abstract

Flowering and pollen seasons are sensitive to environmental variability and are considered climate change indicators. However, it has not been concluded to what extent flowering phenology is indeed reflected in airborne pollen season locally. The aim of this study was to investigate, for the commonly represented in temperate climates and with highly allergenic pollen Betula pendula Roth, the responsiveness of flowering to different environmental regimes and also to check for commensurate changes in the respective pollen seasons. The region of Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany, was initially screened for birch trees, which were geolocated at a radius of 25 km. Random trees across the city were then investigated during three full flowering years, 2015–2017. Flowering observations were made 3–7 times a week, from flower differentiation to flower desiccation, in a total of 43 plant individuals. Data were regressed against meteorological parameters and air pollutant levels in an attempt to identify the driving factors of flowering onset and offset. Flowering dates were compared with dates of the related airborne pollen seasons per taxon; airborne pollen monitoring took place daily using a Hirst-type volumetric sampler. The salient finding was that flowering occurred earlier during warmer years; it also started earlier at locations with higher urbanity, and peaked and ended earlier at sites with higher NO 2 concentrations. Airborne pollen season of Betula spp. frequently did not coincide locally with the flowering period of Betula pendula : while flowering and pollen season were synchronized particularly in their onset, local flowering phenology alone could explain only 57.3% of the pollen season variability. This raises questions about the relationship between flowering times and airborne pollen seasons and on the rather underestimated role of the long-distance transport of pollen.

Suggested Citation

  • Franziska Kolek & Maria Del Pilar Plaza & Vivien Leier-Wirtz & Arne Friedmann & Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann & Athanasios Damialis, 2021. "Earlier Flowering of Betula pendula Roth in Augsburg, Germany, Due to Higher Temperature, NO 2 and Urbanity, and Relationship with Betula spp. Pollen Season," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-17, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:19:p:10325-:d:647408
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. John Worrall, 1999. "Phenology and the changing seasons," Nature, Nature, vol. 399(6732), pages 101-101, May.
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