Seasonal and intradiurnal variation of airborne pollen concentrations in Bodrum, SW Turkey

Abstract

An aeropalynological study was performed in Bodrum, the famous tourism center in southwestern Turkey with a Hirst-type volumetric 7-day pollen and spore trap for 2 years (2007-2008). In Bodrum, 25,099 pollen grains as a mean value belonging to 41 taxa were recorded annually during the study period, and pollen grains from woody plant taxa had the largest atmospheric contribution of 86.99 % and 24 taxa. However, 17 herbaceous plant taxa constituted 12.82 % of the annual total pollen count, and 0.19 % were unidentified. An average annual pollen index of 22.66 % was recorded in March, despite differences from year to year. The highest pollen variability of 34 taxa was recorded in April and May. Predominant pollen types belonged to Cupressaceae/Taxaceae (42.73 %), Quercus (15.95 %), Pinus (9.78 %), Olea europaea (9.04 %), Poaceae (5.50 %), Betula (1.82 %), Pistacia (1.74 %), Morus (1.72 %), Urticaceae (1.46 %), and Plantago (1.28 %) and generated 91.03 % of the annual total. In total, 32.59 % of the mean annual total pollen index was recorded in the morning, and less pollen was recorded in the evening (18.71 %). Maximum pollen concentration was recorded between 11: 00 and 12: 00 a. m.