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Seasonal pollen distribution in the atmosphere of Hobart, Tasmania: preliminary observations and congruence with flowering phenology
Citation
Tng, DYP and Hopf, F and Harberle, SG and Bowman, DMJS, Seasonal pollen distribution in the atmosphere of Hobart, Tasmania: preliminary observations and congruence with flowering phenology, Australian Journal of Botany, 58, (6) pp. 440-452. ISSN 0067-1924 (2010) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2010 CSIRO
Official URL: http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/65/paper/BT10095.h...
DOI: doi:10.1071/BT10095
Abstract
The atmospheric pollen loads of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, were monitored between September 2007 and July
2009. To examine the match of the airborne pollen composition with the flowering duration of their contributing plants, the
phenology of native and non-native plants in various habitats near the pollen-trapping site was undertaken between August
2008 and July 2009. The pollen load was found to have a strong seasonal component associated with the start of spring in
September. This is incongruent with the peak flowering season of the total taxa in October. In most taxa, atmospheric pollen
signatures appeared before flowering was observed in the field. The presence of most pollen types in the atmosphere also
exceeded the observed flowering duration of potential pollen-source taxa. Reasons for this may be related to the sampling
effort of phenological monitoring, pollen blown in from earlier flowering populations outside of the sampling area, the ability
of pollen to be reworked, and the large pollen production of some wind-pollinated taxa. In 2007–2008, 15 pollen types
dominated the atmosphere, accounting for 90% of the airborne pollen load. The top six pollen types belonged to Betula,
Cupressaceae, Myrtaceae, Salix, Poaceae and Ulmus. Comparatively, the annual pollen load of Hobart is lower than in most
other Australian cities; however, the pollen signal of Betula is inordinately high. Native plants play a minor role as pollen
contributors, despite the proximity of native habitats to the pollen-sampling location. The implications of the aerobiological
observations are discussed in relation to public health.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
---|---|
Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
Research Group: | Ecology |
Research Field: | Population ecology |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Air quality, atmosphere and weather |
Objective Field: | Air quality |
UTAS Author: | Tng, DYP (Dr David Tng) |
UTAS Author: | Bowman, DMJS (Professor David Bowman) |
ID Code: | 67259 |
Year Published: | 2010 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 8 |
Deposited By: | Plant Science |
Deposited On: | 2011-03-01 |
Last Modified: | 2011-05-12 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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