A statistical approach to comparing the results from different aerobiological stations.

The recent increase in the number of aerobiological stations means that it is possible to make comparative studies, not only to ascertain similarities and differences between pollen counts in different places, but also to ascertain the most suitable places for them to be situated and the most adequate distance which should be established between them. To this end, we present a statistical comparison of the results obtained for the pollen of the ten most abundant taxa, as recorded in the sampling stations of Malaga and Estepona (South of Spain) during 1995-97. The stations are 90km apart. The variables compared were the following: mean daily concentrations (for each year and the total period studied), the mean concentration of the three years for the same date (trend) and the deviation from this mean (for each year and taken as a whole). The interannual differences within and between stations were taken into account as regards the association, concentration and distribution of the variables. The results of the tests applied point that significant differences between the two stations were observed for most of the pollen types studied. Despite of this, a positive and significant correlation exists between the mean daily concentrations of the different taxa at the two stations, which is an important finding if we consider the possibility of making reliable predictions for one sampling site based on the data obtained at the other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]