Airborne pollen calendar of the central region of Bursa (Turkey)

This report describes qualitatively and quantitatively the level of pollen in the atmosphere in the central region of Bursa. Turkey. In 1991, the season of maximum pollen concentration was from April to June, with a prevalence of arboreal pollen during the initial months, and of pollen from herbaceous plants in the latter months. During the year of research, 24 taxa of arboreal and 12 taxa of herbaceous pollen grains were collected and identified. In the region investigatedPinus, Cupressaceae/Taxaceae,Abies nordmanniana, Platanus orientalis, Olea europaea, Gramineae, Urticaceae, Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae,Artemisia and Compositae were responsible for the greatest amounts of pollen. Some important allergenic pollens such asOlea europaea, Gramineae and Urticaceae were also found in high concentration. In this study, a pollen calendar for the region is presented.     

东北长白山垂直林带下现代表土花粉与植被关系

在长白山北坡5个垂直植被带的林下采集29个表土(苔藓)样品进行孢粉分析，同时将其结果作对应分析。结果表明，除个别样品，在长白山垂直植被带的孢粉组合中乔木花粉占优势，其中以松属和桦木属最多，在各植被带均有分布。松属花粉最高含量出现在以红松为主的针阔混交林带的孢粉组合中；桦木属花粉则大量见于亚高山岳桦林带和以栎桦为主的阔叶落叶林带，但前者伴有耐寒、旱的小灌从杜鹃花属花粉，而在后者中则见有大量蕨类孢子。阔叶落叶林带的孢粉组合是以类型多、百分含量高的落叶乔木花粉和大量蕨类饱子为特征。亚高山针叶林带的孢粉组合中出现数量众多的云杉属花粉。在高山苔原带孢粉组合中虽然乔木花粉略占优势，但极少或不见蕨类孢子，与其他植被带比较，草本植物和小灌丛花粉明鲜较多，其中杜鹃属花粉含量在草本中占优势，其中出现苔原带的指示花粉——仙女木属。     

东北长白山垂直林带下现代表土花粉与植被关系

在长白山北坡5个垂直植被带的林下采集29个表土(苔藓)样品进行孢粉分析,同时将其结果作对应分析.结果表明,除个别样品,在长白山垂直植被带的孢粉组合中乔木花粉占优势,其中以松属和桦木属最多,在各植被带均有分布.松属花粉最高含量出现在以红松为主的针阔混交林带的孢粉组合中;桦木属花粉则大量见于亚高山岳桦林带和以栎桦为主的阔叶落叶林带,但前者伴有耐寒、早的小灌丛杜鹃花属花粉,而在后者中则见有大量蕨类孢子.阔叶落叶林带的孢粉组合是以类型多、百分含量高的落叶乔木花粉和大量蕨类孢子为特征.亚高山针叶林带的孢粉组合中出现数量众多的云杉属花粉.在高山苔原带孢粉组合中虽然乔木花粉略占优势,但极少或不见蕨类孢子,与其他植被带比较,草本植物和小灌丛花粉明鲜较多,其中杜鹃属花粉含量在草本中占优势,其中出现苔原带的指示花粉--仙女木属.     

Aeropalynologic analysis of La Plata City (Argentina) during a 3-year period

A continuous aeropalynologic survey of the atmosphere of La Plata was carried out between July 1998 and June 2001 in order to study flowering development from winter to summer using a Lanzoni volumetric spore trap. The total pollen spectrum was represented by 79 pollen types. Between 10 and 12 pollen types showed a relative concentration of more than 1% of the annual total. Airborne pollen was mainly represented by Platanus, Fraxinus, Cupressaceae, Poaceae, Urticaceae, Cyperaceae, Myrtaceae, Celtis, Casuarina and Morus during the 3-year period. Acer and Ambrosia pollen types were only dominant in the first 2 years. Maximum absolute concentrations were recorded in the the July 1998–June 1999 period, and the minimum concentrations were recorded in the July 2000–June 2001 period. The contribution of the arboreal pollen grains was higher than 68% relative to the annual total for each year. Two periods of maximum pollen emissions were found for each year: pollen from aboreal taxa predominated from July to October, and pollen from herbaceous taxa predominated from November to March. There was very little pollen in the atmosphere between April and June. The maximum arboreal and herbaceous pollen emissions were recorded during hours of daylight: at 10:00 and 14:00 hours.     

Analysis of environmental factors and their effects on fungal spores in the atmosphere of a tropical urban area (San Juan,Puerto Rico)

In Puerto Rico, respiratory diseases affect a significant percentage of the population, and it is possible that the environmental factors unique to the island, such as easterly winds, dense vegetation, and high humidity, may increase the concentration of airborne biological particulates that could distress susceptible individuals. As most studies characterized fungal spores and pollen in temperate zones, we wanted to describe their concentrations in a tropical zone. The Allergenco^® (MK3) spore trap was used to monitor airborne spores and pollen concentrations for 12 months starting on May 2005. During the length of the study, silicone grease-coated microscope slides captured 12 impacts daily, which were then stained with calcofluor and observed under the microscope with bright field and ultraviolet light. Atmospheric conditions were recorded with the Precision Weather Station^®. Precipitation, dew point, and relative humidity promote the presence of fungal spores in San Juan throughout the year, with basidiospores being the most frequent. Spore concentrations were higher during the early morning hours all the year around. Wind and gusts were dispersal factors, and humidity and the dew point favored the release of spores into the atmosphere. In contrast to spores, pollens were not found to be affected by any of the meteorological factors and no distinctive patterns were found. Describing how airborne spores and pollens, many of which have allergenic potential, behave in the tropics, such as in San Juan, Puerto Rico, could be used to design preventive measures for the benefit of the sensitized population. Information about the presence and abundance of aeroallergens will assist in the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis and asthma on the island.     

Pollen and Spore Incidence and Phenology in the Stockholm Area during 1972

Records of air-borne pollen and spores were made during a six month period in the Stockholm area in 1972. This paper presents phenological data and volumetric measurements obtained by means of a Burkard trap. Attention was paid to both arboreal pollen and non-arboreal pollen and spores, identified to family, genus or species level. Spores of certain common Pteridophytes were also included in the investigation, but not Bryophytes or fungal spores.     

北京城区气传花粉季节分布特征

研究北京城区气传花粉种类、数量及季节消长规律,为防治花粉症及建设合理城市绿地提供有效资料.应用Burkard采样器于2010年12月31日至2011年12月31日对北京城区气传花粉浓度进行监测,并对花粉浓度进行统计学分析.研究结果显示,2011年北京城区的花粉季节从3月20日起始,至10月18日截止,持续213d,占全年天数的58％;全年花粉含量月分布呈现两个高峰,第1个高峰为3-4月,主要花粉为木犀科、杨属、柳属等树木花粉,占全年花粉总量的30％;第2个高峰为8-9月,主要花粉为菊科、藜科及苋科等莠草花粉,占全年花粉总量的50％;2011年度北京城区最具代表性的气传花粉来自于菊科,比重占了收集到气传花粉的35％.研究结果还表明,秋季的气传花粉致敏性强,所以北京花粉症的高发季节主要集中在秋季,以8-9月为最高,其中有95％的病人在此期间出现花粉症症状.花粉浓度及飘散规律受当地植被状况及气候等多种因素影响,因此,北京城区空气中气传花粉飘散种类、数量及季节分布规律的调查结果,可以为本地区花粉症防治及绿化品种的选择提供可靠依据.     

Inhibition of common fouling organisms by marine bacterial isolates ith special reference to the role of pigmented bacteria

Two questions of relevance to the establishment of marine biofouling communities were addressed, viz (1) what is the frequency with which bacterial strains isolated from living and inanimate surfaces in the marine environment show inhibitory activity against the settlement of common fouling organisms, and (2) is the antifouling bacterium, D2, an inhabitant of different marine waters, and how unique is this bacterium, in its mode of action against different target organisms? With respect to the first question, ninety three marine bacteria isolated from various rock surfaces from the marine environment were tested against larvae of Balanus amphitrite and spores of Ulva lactuca. Settlement assays against the diatom Amphora sp. were also performed on 10 of these strains. Nine bacterial isolates were shown to be inhibitory against larval settlement and eight of these strains were also inhibitory against algal spores. Altogether 16 strains were inhibitory against the settlement of algal spores while none of the bacterial strains inhibited diatom settlement. With respect to the second question, D2, a dark green pigmented bacterium, isolated from an adult tunicate off the Swedish west coast, has been found to be a very effective inhibitor against common fouling organisms. In order to see if this bacterium can be found in other marine waters, bacteria from living surfaces of marine plants and animals from waters around Sydney, Australia, were isolated and screened for inhibitory activity against barnacle larvae. Seventy four percent of the 23 plant isolates were shown to be inhibitory against larval settlement while only 30% of the 23 isolates from marine animals reduced settlement. Twenty two of the isolates from different seaweeds were dark pigmented and 20 of these strains inhibited settlement of barnacle larvae and algal spores. Three of the strains showed the same phenotypic expression as D2, and the results indicate that these strains may be D2 or closely related strains, suggesting that D2 may be a common inhabitant in the marine environment.     

Betulaceae, Corylaceae, Cupressaceae, Fagaceae and Salicaceae around Parma (Northern Italy): Pollen calendars from 1995 to 1997

Many seasonal respiratory allergies are caused byairborne pollens. There is an evident correlationbetween allergic attacks and the amount of pollens inthe atmosphere at any time. The airbornetree pollen concentration and the relevantrepercussions on pollinotics hasnot yet been extensively reported for all Italian regions.We present the results of a 3-year, weekly, tree pollen count byBurkard spore trap from the atmosphere of Parma,Italy. Annual pollen calendars were made from theresults. The study has been conducted because, in Europe,an increasing frequency of allergic sensitisation to thesepollens has been observed.     

Desiccation resistance in arboreal and terrestrial ants

ABSTRACT Arboreal and terrestrial ants were exposed to 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 (control)% r.h., at 30^oC. Desiccation resistance increased with body size (as dry weight^0.55), but not as quickly as expected from the consequences of the surface area and volume relationship (as dry weight^0.67). Arboreal ants took 8 times longer to die than terrestrial ants of comparable size. Even after size effects were removed, desiccation resistance differed between various terrestrial species and showed a correlation with foraging patterns.
Arboreal and terrestrial ants whose waterproofing epicuticular lipids were removed by chloroform: methanol extraction had equally high water loss rates at 0% r.h. Unextracted arboreal ants had water loss rates half those of unextracted terrestrial ants, suggesting that differences between them were based on differences in epicuticular lipids. The lower water loss rates of arboreal ants contributed significantly to their longer survival under desiccation. Arboreal ants also had greater total rectal pad area than terrestrial ants, suggesting that they may be able to reclaim faecal water more effectively. There were no differences in the minimum viable water content between the two groups of ants. Both had water loss tolerances comparable with those of arthropods adapted to xeric environments. Initial water loss rates could not account for all of the differences in desiccation resistance between arboreal and terrestrial ants. Other adaptations to desiccation stress by arboreal ants are likely.
Comparisons of water loss rates and desiccation resistance between arboreal and desert ants suggest that the arboreal habitat is at least as stressful as the desert habitat.     

The effect of meteorological factors on the daily variation of airborne fungal spores in Granada (southern Spain)

A study was made of the link between climatic factors and the daily content of certain fungal spores in the atmosphere of the city of Granada in 1994. Sampling was carried out with a Burkard 7-day-recording spore trap. The spores analysed corresponded to the taxa Alternaria, Ustilago and Cladosporium, with two morphologically different spore types in the latter genus, cladosporioides and herbarum. These spores were selected both for their allergenic capacity and for the high level of their presence in the atmosphere, particularly during the spring and autumn. The spores of Cladosporium were the most abundant (93.82% of the total spores identified). The Spearman correlation coefficients between the spore concentrations studied and the meteorological parameters show different indices depending on the taxon being analysed. Alternaria and Cladosporium are significantly correlated with temperature and hours of sunlight, while Ustilago shows positive correlation indices with relative humidity and negative indices with wind speed. Received: 16 April 1998 / Revised: 27 September 1999 / Accepted: 27 October 1999     

The nutritional status of plants from high altitudes

Summary Are plants at high altitudes short in nutrients? In order to answer this question the mineral nutrient content of leaves from over 150 plant species from 9 different mountain areas of all major climatic zones were analyzed (Kjeldahl nitrogen in all, phosphate in half of the samples, K, Mg, Mn, Ca in the Alps only). The majority of data are from herbaceous perennials, but shrubs and trees were studied as well. N-partitioning was studied in 45 herbaceous species from contrasting altitudes in the Alps. The survey falls into three categories: (1) comparisons of whole communities of species from contrasting altitudes, (2) analysis of altitudinal gradients, and (3) additional collections from high altitude sites alone. Unlike the other mineral nutrients, nitrogen content follows consistent altitudinal and latitudinal trends. The higher altitude sample always had higher N content per unit leaf area, irrespective of life form, wherever comparable plants (the same or related species) were investigated at contrasting altitudes. N content per unit dry weight (%) increased with altitude in herbaceous plants (in some species >4%), but was remarkably stable in evergreen woody plants (around 1%). The mean fraction of total plant N allocated to leaves of herbaceous plants in the Alps was the same at low and high altitude (1/3 of total). Leaf N (%) from the regional upper limits of higher plant life reveals a latitudinal decrease from subarctic to equatorial mountains, which may be related to the duration of annual leaf activity. Since mean N content per leaf area hardly differs between the uppermost sites, life span expectation (sink-duration) seems to control carbon investments rather than N input per leaf area. The growth of leaves at high altitude seems to be controlled in a way that leads to comparatively high nutrient contents, which in turn support high metabolic activity. Inherent developmental growth constraints inhibit nutrient dilution in the plant body and thus defy the application of classical concepts of plant-nutrient versus soil-nutrient relations developed for lowlands and in particular for cultivated plants. The results re-emphasize the global significance of links between nitrogen content, leaf sclerophylly, leaf longevity and photosynthetic capacity.Dedicated to Prof. Walter Larcher on the occasion of his 60th birthday, with thanks for leading me to comparative plant ecology     

Roman impact on the landscape near castellum Fectio,The Netherlands

Castellum Fectio was one of the largest fortifications along the Limes, the northern border of the Roman Empire. The castellum, situated 5 km southeast of Utrecht, the Netherlands, was occupied from around the start of our Era to ca. a.d. 260. It was situated along a river bend of the Rhine that was cut off from the main stream during the occupation of the Roman fort. A 6 m long sediment sequence was recovered from the infill of the residual channel and pieces of Roman wall plaster, glume bases of Triticum spelta and radiocarbon dates indicate that the sediments were deposited during the period of Roman occupation. The combined palaeoecological analyses—palynological, macrobotanical, entomological and geochemical—allow a detailed reconstruction of changing environmental conditions as a consequence of the Roman occupation. The pollen record reveals a dramatic decrease in arboreal pollen, suggesting that the Romans were involved in large-scale deforestation, transforming semi-open parkland to a landscape of meadows and agricultural fields. Non-pollen palynomorphs, botanical macrofossils and insect remains support this conclusion. The recorded mycoflora shows a shift from assemblages characterised by the tree pathogen Kretzschmaria deusta to assemblages dominated by spores of fungi associated with herbaceous plants, concurrent with the decrease in arboreal pollen. The presence of masticated bran fragments of cereals, clover remains, eggs of intestinal parasites and entomological and geochemical data in the upper part of the sequence indicates that these sediments largely consist of faeces that were dumped into the former channel. Surprisingly, seeds of salt tolerant species are encountered in the sediments of this inland site, which was situated outside the influence of the sea. Horses may have brought these seeds to Fectio in their intestinal tracts after grazing in coastal meadows.     

Studies on the air-borne fungal spores in Amritsar: Their role in keratomycosis

An aerial survey for fungal spores in Amritsar has been carried out by petri plate exposure method for a period of one year. A total of 23 fungi appeared in the plates. Out of these Aspergillus was the commonest fungus representing 21.69% of the total colony count followed by Alternaria, Curvularia and Fusarium. There was seasonal variation in the prevalence of fungal spores. A comparison of the prevalence of fungi in diseased and healthy eyes and the atmosphere of Amritsar appeasrs to support the view that these fungi are transient residents in the eyes depending on their availability in the atmosphere.Part of the data presented at the XXXVIII All India Ophthalmological Conference held at Amritsar from January 5–8, 1979.     

A preliminary study of resource overlap between howling monkeys (Alouatta palliata) and other arboreal mammals in the tropical rain forest of Los Tuxtlas,Mexico

Potential resource overlap between howling monkeys and other arboreal mammals was studied in the rain forest of Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico. Eight species of mammals belonging to the orders Primates, Carnivora, Rodentia, and Marsupialia were found to share the canopy and to overlap trophically with howling monkeys. These mammals made up 77% and Alouatta 23% of the arboreal mammalian biomass under consideration. The arboreal porcupine and spider monkey were the only mammals that also fed on leaves. However, in this feeding niche, Alouatta is the only important mammalian folivore in Los Tuxtlas, and resource depression derived from leaf-eating insects is more important. The eight arboreal mammals may exert more pressure upon fruit resources, for they consumed 75% of the estimated total dry weight of fruit/ha/yr consumed by arboreal mammals.     

Inherent allocation patterns and potential growth rates of herbaceous climbing plants

We tested the hypothesis that herbaceous climbing plants, unlike non-climbing herbs, maximize height growth and leaf area, with minimal expenditure in support structures. The enhanced investment in leaf area was expected to result in high relative growth rates in terms of biomass increment. Four leguminous herbaceous climbers from nutrient-poor sites and four non-leguminous herbaceous climbers from nutrient-rich sites, were compared with non-climbing, self-supporting leguminous and non-leguminous herbaceous species from similar habitats. Plants were grown in hydroponic cultures in controlled environment chambers. All climbers had inherently taller shoots than self-supporting plants when compared at an equal amount of total plant dry weight, due to longer stems per unit of support biomass. In contrast to the hypothesis, the relative growth rates of all climbers were relatively low compared to the range found for self-supporting species. The biomass allocation patterns of the non-leguminous climbers were similar to those of the self-supporting species. Leguminous climbers allocated more biomass to support tissue and less biomass to leaves than non-climbers. As a result, height growth was even more emphasized in leguminous climbers than in non-leguminous climbers. Climbing legumes had high rates of net carbon gain, which partly compensated the lower relative leaf weight. We conclude that leguminous herbaceous climbers maximize height growth by a large investment in support biomass, enabling them to keep a large proportion of their leaves in the better illuminated environment at the top of the vegetation canopy.     

福州鼓山季风常绿阔叶林及其林缘几种植物叶热值和营养成分

研究了福州鼓山次生的南亚热带季风常绿阔叶要及其林缘不同层次１３种植物叶热值、灰分含是及营养成分。结果表明：群落的不同层次平均灰分含量从低到高依次是乔木层（６．８％）,草本层（８．５％）、灌木层（１０％）;平均含灰分热值（ＧＣＶ）从低到高低次是草本层（１６．８９ＫＪ／ｇ）、灌木层（１７．７５ＫＪ／ｇ）、乔木层（１９．７９ＫＪ／ｇ）;平均不含灰分热值（ＡＦＣＶ）从低到高依次是草本层（１８．５５ＫＪ／ｇ     

Seasonal and Diurnal Variation of Airborne Basidiomycete Spore Concentrations in Mexico City

Seasonal and diurnal changes in concentrations of airborne basidiomycete spores (basidiospores, rusts, smuts) were studied, using Burkard volumetric spore traps, in two areas of Mexico City with different degrees of urbanization and related to changes in climatic variables through 1991. Basidiomycete spores formed a large component of the total airborne fungal spore load in the atmosphere of Mexico City. They were the second most abundant spore type after Deuteromycotina (Hyphomycetes), forming 32% of the total fungal spores trapped in an urban-residential area and 28% in an urban-commercial area. The most abundant basidiomycete spores were basidiospores although smut-type spores were trapped on more days than basidiospores and rusts on fewer. Basidiospores occurred in concentrations up to 2,000 spores m-3 in the urban-residential area. Basidiospores showed a marked seasonal distribution, especially in the southern area, with their greatest abundance during the wet season. The correlation coefficients associated with regressions between basidiospore concentration and some environmental factors were increased when a lag period of 2 to 4 days was used between environmental measurements and the day of spore collection. Basidiospore concentrations exceeded the 75 percentile concentration (>400 spores m^-3) most often when rainfall was up to 6 mm and relative humidity was >70%. Basidiospores showed a diurnal periodicity with greatest concentrations in the early morning. The most common basidiospore type was Coprinus which formed 67% of basidiospores trapped in the southern area and 63% in the central area. Smut spores were trapped on 87% of days through the year while rust spores occurred in only 35%. Both rusts and smuts were present in only small concentrations.     

Interrelationship of Heat and Relative Humidity in the Destruction of Clostridium botulinum Type E Spores on Whitefish Chubs

Heat destruction of types B and E Clostridium botulinum spores on whitefish chubs was observed to be dependent upon the relative humidity (RH) in the chamber in which fish were heated. Experimental conditions were designed to simulate those attainable in commercial fish-smoking plants. Low numbers of type E spores were destroyed with regularity, within 30 min, on fish which were held at an internal temperature of 77 C (170.6 F) in an atmosphere of at least 70% RH. However, an internal temperature of 82 C (179.6 F) and a minimum RH of 70% were required to destroy several hundred thousand type E spores. Quantitative estimates of spore destruction were arrived at with a modified most probable number procedure. Type E spore populations were reduced by 2 to 4 logarithms at 77 C (170.6 F), by 5 to 6 logarithms at 82 C (179.6 F), and by more than 6 logarithms at 88 C (190.4 F) when fish were heated in an atmosphere of 70% RH. A 5 to 6 logarithm reduction of spores was also observed when fish inoculated with type B spores were processed at 82 C (179.6 F) in an atmosphere of 70% RH.     

三峡库区森林土壤大孔隙特征及对饱和导水率的影响

土壤大孔隙是土体内孔径较大能优先传导水分的根孔、洞穴或裂隙,大孔隙内优先流的产生是土壤水分运动研究由均衡走向非均衡的标志。利用原状土柱的水分穿透试验,对三峡库区山地不同林型覆盖下土壤的大孔隙结构进行了研究,分析了温性阔叶林棕壤、针阔混交林黄棕壤、暖性针叶林黄壤及弃耕草地剖面内大孔隙的剖面分布特征及其对土壤饱和导水率的影响。结果表明:研究区内森林土壤的大孔隙当量孔径在0.3—3 mm之间,占土壤总体积的0.15%—4.72%。大孔隙中孔径0.3—0.6 mm的大孔隙密度最大,占大孔隙总数量的72.2%—90.4%;而孔径1 mm的孔隙仅占大孔隙总数量的1.26%—8.55%。土壤大孔隙密度和大孔隙面积比的顺序为:温性阔叶林棕壤针阔混交林黄棕壤针叶林黄壤弃耕坡地。各孔径段的大孔隙密度在不同样点均呈现A层-B层-C层逐渐减小的趋势,大孔隙密度与有机质含量呈显著正相关关系。土壤饱和导水率与不同孔径大孔隙的密度、面积比均成显著正相关关系,孔径1mm的大孔隙仅占大孔隙总数量的1.26%—8.55%,但决定了饱和导水率84.7%的变异。此外,森林土壤饱和导水率与各土壤层的有机质含量成显著正相关关系,有机质的增多有利于改善土壤的入渗性能。