Monitoring the pollination of the endangered species Abiespinsapo Boiss.: seasonality, intensity and recent trends.
de Gálvez-Montañez E, Marín-Fernández ME, Vaskova Z, Trigo MM, Picornell A
Phenology
If you've ever hiked the mountains of southern Spain, the ghost-blue spires of Spanish fir are part of that landscape — and this seven-year pollen record is one of the first tools scientists have to watch whether climate is quietly shifting the reproduction of a tree found nowhere else on Earth.
The Spanish fir is a rare tree that only grows wild in a small area of southern Spain. Researchers figured out how to identify its pollen in the air — it's larger than most of its relatives — and then tracked it over seven years to see when it releases pollen and whether that window is shifting. Warmer temperatures and stronger winds push more pollen into the air, while humid days suppress it, but so far there's no clear sign the season is getting earlier or later.
Key Findings
Spanish fir pollen season runs from March to June, identifiable by its distinctively larger grain size compared to other members of the pine family.
Temperature and wind speed positively correlated with airborne pollen concentrations, while relative humidity showed a negative correlation.
No statistically significant trends in pollen season timing or intensity were detected across the 2018–2025 study period using multiple analysis methods.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Scientists tracked airborne pollen from the rare Spanish fir (Abies pinsapo) across seven years to understand when it pollinates and how weather affects pollen dispersal. They found pollination peaks March through June, driven by warmth and wind, but detected no significant long-term trend in pollen season timing or intensity.
Abstract Preview
Abies pinsapo Boiss., is an endemic tree species to southern Spain whose pollination has not been studied in detail since its pollen grains have historically been included together with the rest of...
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Abies pinsapo, Spanish fir, is a species of tree in the family Pinaceae, native to southern Spain and northern Morocco. Related to other species of Mediterranean firs, it appears at elevations of 900–1,800 metres (3,000–5,900 ft) in the Sierra de Grazalema in the Province of Cádiz and the Sierra ...