Airborne Alternaria and Cladosporium Fungal Spores in Europe: Forecasting Possibilities and Relationships with Meteorological Parameters

Airborne fungal spores are prevalent components of bioaerosols with a large impact on ecology, economy and health. Their major socioeconomic effects could be reduced by accurate and timely prediction of airborne spore concentrations. The main aim of this study was to create and evaluate models of Alternaria and Cladosporium spore concentrations based on data on a continental scale. Additional goals included assessment of the level of generalization of the models in space and description of the main meteorological factors influencing fungal spore concentrations. Aerobiological monitoring was carried out at 18 sites in six countries across Europe over 3 to 21 years depending on site. Quantile random forest modelling was used to predict spore concentrations values. Generalization of the Alternaria and Cladosporium models was tested using (i) one model for all the sites, (ii) models for groups of sites, and (iii) models for individual sites. The study revealed the possibility of reliable prediction of fungal spore levels using gridded meteorological data. The classification models also showed the capacity for providing larger scale predictions of fungal spore concentrations. Regression models were distinctly less accurate than classification models due to several factors, including measurement errors and distinct day-to-day changes of concentrations. Temperature and vapour pressure proved to be the most important variables in the regression and classification models of Alternaria and Cladosporium spore concentrations. Accurate and operational daily-scale predictive models of bioaerosol abundances contribute to the assessment and evaluation of relevant exposure and consequently more timely and efficient management of phytopathogenic and of human allergic diseases

Airborne Alternaria and Cladosporium Fungal Spores in Europe: Forecasting Possibilities and Relationships with Meteorological Parameters

Airborne fungal spores are prevalent components of bioaerosols with a large impact on ecology, economy and health. Their major socioeconomic effects could be reduced by accurate and timely prediction of airborne spore concentrations. The main aim of this study was to create and evaluate models of Alternaria and Cladosporium spore concentrations based on data on a continental scale. Additional goals included assessment of the level of generalization of the models in space and description of the main meteorological factors influencing fungal spore concentrations. Aerobiological monitoring was carried out at 18 sites in six countries across Europe over 3 to 21 years depending on site. Quantile random forest modelling was used to predict spore concentrations values. Generalization of the Alternaria and Cladosporium models was tested using (i) one model for all the sites, (ii) models for groups of sites, and (iii) models for individual sites. The study revealed the possibility of reliable prediction of fungal spore levels using gridded meteorological data. The classification models also showed the capacity for providing larger scale predictions of fungal spore concentrations. Regression models were distinctly less accurate than classification models due to several factors, including measurement errors and distinct day-to-day changes of concentrations. Temperature and vapour pressure proved to be the most important variables in the regression and classification models of Alternaria and Cladosporium spore concentrations. Accurate and operational daily-scale predictive models of bioaerosol abundances contribute to the assessment and evaluation of relevant exposure and consequently more timely and efficient management of phytopathogenic and of human allergic diseases

Analysis of pond transformations and evaluation of the natural values of midfield water bodies in central part of the Nowaogard Plain

Badaniami objęto centralną część Równiny Nowogardzkiej, o powierzchni 440 km². Do analizy przekształceń oczek wodnych oraz oceny stanu ich zachowania posłużyły mapy topograficzne z końca XIX i XX w. (1: 25 000) oraz badania terenowe, przeprowadzone w lipcu i sierpniu 2003 r. Ze względu na dużą dynamikę przekształceń małych zbiorników wodnych na badanym terenie celem pracy stało się określenie przemian oczek w zależności od sposobu użytkowania terenu w czasie ostatnich stu lat oraz ocena wartości przyrodniczych śródpolnych zbiorników na postawie charakterystyki związanej z nimi flory i roślinności wodno-bagiennej. Na podstawie analizy materiałów kartograficznych stwierdzono zróżnicowanie zanikania oczek wodnych w zależności od użytkowania terenu. Spośród 543 oczek wodnych, występujących pod koniec XIX w., do drugiej połowy XX w. przetrwały zaledwie 182 zbiorniki. Z grupy zbiorników występujących na obszarach o niezmienionym sposobie użytkowania najwięcej zanikło na polach, gdzie z 266 oczek (koniec XIX w.) pozostało 70 akwenów. Wśród obecnie istniejących oczek śródpolnych, obok przetrwałych obiektów, zanotowano także 17 oczek nowo powstałych. Roślinność występującą w obrębie odnalezionych w terenie 53 oczek scharakteryzowano na podstawie 239 zdjęć fitosocjologicznych. Wyróżniono 35 zbiorowisk roślinnych, w tym 12 regionalnie rzadkich i zagrożonych. We wszystkich oczkach łącznie zanotowano 187 gatunków roślin naczyniowych i mszaków, w tym wiele cennych przyrodniczo - chronionych, zagrożonych i regionalnie rzadkich.Studies were conducted within central part of the Nowogard Plain of the total area of 440 km². Topographic maps from the end of the 19 th and 20 th century (1:25 000) and field studies carried out in 2003 provided data for analysis of pond transformation and for evaluation of pond preservation. Considering a high dynamics of transformation of small ponds within the studied area, determination of ponds transformation in relation to land use over previous hundred years and evaluation of natural values of midfield ponds based on characteristics of their flora and wetland vegetation were the aim of the studies. Analysis of the cartographic materials revealed differentiation of pond disappearance related to the land utilization systems. Only 182 out of 543 ponds present at the end of the 19 th century remained till the second half of the 20 th century. Within the group of ponds that occurred in areas of unchanged land use, the highest level of their decline was observed in fields (70 ponds remaining out of 266 ponds recorded at the end of the 19 th of century). Among the presently observed midfield ponds, apart from preserved objects, 17 newly formed water bodies were noted. Vegetation of 53 midfield ponds was characterized based on 239 phytosociological releves. Thirty five plant communities were determined including 12 regionally rare and endangered. A total of 187 species of vascular plants and bryophytes, including many valuable - protected, endangered and regionally rare, were found in all analyzed water bodies