Analysis of the pollen content in the atmosphere of Malaga: 1995

Abstract

During 1995 a pollen content analysis of the atmosphere was carried out in Malaga (southern Spain) to see whether any significant differences existed between the 1995 record and those of 1992-94. The sampling was made with the aid of a Burkard spore-trap located on the roof of the Faculty of Medicine of Malaga University. During this year, we observed that about 85% of total pollen was collected from February to June, with two maximum peaks in April and May, while the lowest monthly concentration was detected from July to December. During this period, the most important taxa in the atmosphere of Malaga were Olea europaea, Quercus and Cupressaceae, followed by Urticaceae, Pinaceae, Poaceae, Chenopodiaceae-Atnaranthaceae and Casuarina, in that order of importance. The different peaks occuring during the year are fundamentally due to Cupressaceae in February, Cupressaceae, Quercus, Plantago and Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae in April, Olea and Poaceae in May and Casuarina in October. A substantial decrease in Olea and Cupressaceae pollen (woody plants), and from weeds, such Plantago, Gramineae and Chenopodiaceae- Amaranthaceae (herbaceous plants), were observed in the atmosphere of Malaga during 1995, probably due to the warm dry winter and spring.