1. The impact of urban and forest fires on the airborne fungal spore aerobiology
- Author
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Roberto Camacho, André Góis, Vítor Nóbrega, Fernandez, and Irene Camacho
- Subjects
Mediterranean climate ,medicine.medical_specialty ,010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences ,Airborne fungal spores ,Forest fires ,Decision trees ,Immunology ,Biological particles ,Plant Science ,010501 environmental sciences ,01 natural sciences ,Aerobiology ,Faculdade de Ciências da Vida ,medicine ,Immunology and Allergy ,Ecosystem ,Precipitation ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Ecology ,Madeira Island (Portugal) ,fungi ,Spore ,Habitat ,Germination ,Environmental science ,Aerobiology fires - Abstract
The occurrence of airborne fungal spores is driven by several biogeographic and climatic factors. In addition, the occurrence of fires near fungal ecosystems seems to play an important role on the aerobiology of fungal spores. Wildfires are prevalent throughout the world and particularly so in several South European countries with Mediterranean climate. The present survey aimed at analysing the impact of urban and forest fires on the airborne fungal spore content of Madeira Island. Data suggest that after a fire occurrence, the concentration of fungal spores tends to increase in the air, peaking on the 10th day after a fire event. It is likely that fire-induced convections promote release of fungal spores from their natural habitat and that the soil heating conditions could trigger the germination of fungi colonizing post-fire plant residues and soil. It is also possible that the registered low precipitation and wind intensity could help increase the concentration of fungal spores in the atmosphere during 1–2 weeks. These findings need further research, not only at a regional but also at a larger scale, in order to clarify the specific impact of fires on such biological particles and the possible consequences on public health.
- Published
- 2018