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A multi-scale analysis of airborne Alternaria spore dispersal: Influence of meteorology, land cover and air pollution.
Agric. For. Meteorol. 372:110716 (2025)
Publ. Version/Full Text
Research data
DOI
Alternaria is a fungal phytopathogen affecting over 4,000 species and causing 20% of agricultural production losses. About 9% of people in Europe are sensitized to its allergens. Understanding spore concentration variability under different environmental conditions can optimize fungicide use and improve allergy diagnosis and treatment. This study examines the spatio-temporal abundance of airborne Alternaria spores across varying climate and pollution regimes, hypothesizing that regional land cover is the main predictor of spore concentrations. In 2015, airborne Alternaria spores were monitored at 23 sites in Bavaria using Hirst-type spore traps. Concentrations were assessed on a bihourly scale and differences between bioclimatic zones were analysed using regression (GLM, GLZ), variance (ANOVA, ANCOVA) and cluster analyses, controlling for meteorology, air quality and land use. Machine learning techniques, including random forest, regression tree and XGBoost, were also implemented to detect complex, non-linear patterns, while stepwise regression was used to identify the most influential predictors. The seasonal fungal index (SFI) of Alternaria spores varied considerably between locations. Cluster analysis identified five main groups based on the maximum concentration and monthly distribution. The highest SFI values were in the north, including Bayreuth, Bamberg and Hof, but with shorter season. SFI decreased toward the south with lower temperatures, but seasons lengthened. One-third of spores appeared after 6 pm, with half of daily peaks post-8 pm. At higher altitudes, spore circulation was more variable, with peaks mostly at night. NO₂ and air temperature had a greater impact on spore levels than land use. Our results indicate that in a world with warmer nights and higher pollution fungal spores may enhance growth and sporulation, increasing the risk of exposure to both human health and agricultural productivity, highlighting the need for monitoring and potential mitigation of fungal pathogens.
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Publication type
Article: Journal article
Document type
Scientific Article
Keywords
Aerobiology ; Air Quality ; Climate Change ; Fungal Ecology ; Land Use Dynamics, Machine Learning Models; Allergenic Fungal Spores; Long-term Trends; Pollen; Thessaloniki; Ambrosia; Climate; Denmark; Ragweed; Urban; City
ISSN (print) / ISBN
0168-1923
e-ISSN
1873-2240
Quellenangaben
Volume: 372,
Article Number: 110716
Publisher
Elsevier
Publishing Place
Amsterdam [u.a.]
Non-patent literature
Publications
Reviewing status
Peer reviewed
Institute(s)
Institute of Environmental Medicine (IEM)
Grants
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection
Bavarian State Ministry of Health and Care
Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection
Bavarian State Ministry of Health and Care