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Temporal dynamics of airborne fungi in Havana (Cuba) during dry and rainy seasons: influence of meteorological parameters

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Abstract

The aim of this paper was to determine for first time the influence of the main meteorological parameters on the atmospheric fungal spore concentration in Havana (Cuba). This city is characterized by a subtropical climate with two different marked annual rainfall seasons during the year: a “dry season” and a “rainy season”. A nonviable volumetric methodology (Lanzoni VPPS-2000 sampler) was used to sample airborne spores. The total number of spores counted during the 2 years of study was 293,594, belonging to 30 different genera and five spore types. Relative humidity was the meteorological parameter most influencing the atmospheric concentration of the spores, mainly during the rainy season of the year. Winds coming from the SW direction also increased the spore concentration in the air. In terms of spore intradiurnal variation we found three different patterns: morning maximum values for Cladosporium, night peaks for Coprinus and Leptosphaeria, and uniform behavior throughout the whole day for Aspergillus/Penicillium."

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Acknowledgments

This research was partially supported by the USC-Banco de Santander program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana, Havana, 10400, Cuba

    Michel Almaguer & Teresa I. Rojas

  2. Department of Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santiago, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

    María-Jesús Aira

  3. Department of Plant Biology and Soil Sciences, University of Vigo, Vigo, Spain

    F. Javier Rodríguez-Rajo

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  1. Michel Almaguer
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  2. María-Jesús Aira
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  3. F. Javier Rodríguez-Rajo
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  4. Teresa I. Rojas
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Correspondence to María-Jesús Aira.

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Almaguer, M., Aira, MJ., Rodríguez-Rajo, F.J. et al. Temporal dynamics of airborne fungi in Havana (Cuba) during dry and rainy seasons: influence of meteorological parameters. Int J Biometeorol 58, 1459–1470 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-013-0748-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-013-0748-6

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