MICMoR Pollen

Influence of climate change and management on pollen production and allergenicity of grasses

Climate change is changing the time and duration of flowering, prolonging the pollen load and increasing allergies.

Allergenicity of grass pollen

The ELISA technique is used to determine the content of significant hay fever allergy triggers in various grass species and varieties. In field experiments, climate scenarios are simulated and their influence on different grass species/varieties is investigated. A particular focus is on differences in pollen production and allergen content. The aim is to develop variety recommendations for agriculture in order to keep allergen exposure as low as possible.

Monitoring of pollen concentration in the foothills of the Alps

With three 7-day pollen collectors, in Freising (480 a.s.l.), Garmisch-Partenkirchen (740 a.s.l.) and on the Zugspitze (2660 a.s.l.), the pollen concentration of all existing plant species is recorded during the vegetation period. The short, medium and long distance transport of pollen will be investigated using meteorological data. The locally observed pollen concentrations will be tested for the influence of mountain valley wind, topography, land use and local plant composition as well as climate conditions. The influence of land management will be analysed in more detail in a measurement campaign on the TERENO (Terrestrial Enviromental Observatoria) areas starting in 2017.

This project is funded by MICMoR (Mechanisms and Interactions of Climate Change in Mountain Regions), a graduate program for PhD students in climate change research.

Contact:

Stephan Jung, Prof. Dr. Annette Menzel

Duration:

2015 - 2018