Galapagos is an archipelago of volcanic islands located 972 km west from the continental
Ecuador. They were declared by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and Biosphere
Reserve due to their singular environmental value, where a third part of the native plants
are endemic to this archipelago (Jaramillo et al., 2011). In spite of the numerous scientific
studies carried out in Galapagos, there are not any aerobiological samplings being
performed currently. The main objectives of this study were to install a pollen trap for
detecting the presence of pollen in the atmosphere of Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz, Galapagos
Islands) and qualitatively identify the different pollen types detected during the studied
period.
A Durham (1946) gravimetric pollen trap was modified to turn it into a passive impact
pollen trap based on Pla Dalmau (1957) modifications. It was placed on the roof of the
Galapagos National School (Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island) at a height of 15m above
ground level. The samples were obtained by using silicone fluid as adhesive substance and
glycerine gelatine as mounting mean. The pollen grains were counted in a surface of 14 x
48 mm in each sample. The pollen types were identified with the aid of the pollen guide of
the Galapagos Island by Jaramillo & Trigo (2011) and the Charles Darwin Foundation
pollen bank.
Pollen types of endemic plants such as Darwiniothamnus sp., Passiflora foetida var.
galapagensis Killip, Justicia galapagana Lindau and Castela galapageia Hook. f. were
detected together with those of other native and introduced species.
A high diversity of pollen types was detected, reflecting the particular vegetation of the
island. This preliminary aerobiological information can be used as precedent for further
studies on the pollination of native and introduced species of the Galapagos Islands, as well
as for detecting possible allergic diseases in the population.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech
