The pollen counts as bioindicator of meteorological trends and tool for assessing the status of endangered species: the case of Artemisia in Sierra Nevada (Spain)

• Published in: Climatic change 2013-08, Vol.119 (3-4), p.799-813
• Main Authors: Cariñanos, Paloma, Díaz de la Guardia, Consuelo, Algarra, Jose Antonio, De Linares, Concepción, Irurita, José Ma
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Artemisia; Atmospheric Sciences; Bioindicators; Biological and medical sciences; Climate change; Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts; Climate effects; Climatology. Bioclimatology. Climate change; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Endangered & extinct species; Endangered species; Environmental conditions; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Flowering; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Indicator species; Meteorology; Mountains; Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking; Pioneers; Pollen; Recovery; Seedlings; Seeds; Trends; Wildlife conservation
• ISSN: 0165-0009; 1573-1480
• DOI: 10.1007/s10584-013-0751-2

This study sought to analyse the effects of climate change on Artemisia species growing in Sierra Nevada, a high mountain range in the south-east of the Iberian Peninsula, using pollen counts as a bioindicator. The study also examined the impact of Recovery Programmes implemented for the most endangered of these species. Analysis of historical Artemisia pollen-data series from 1992 to 2011 showed that flowering took place between late July and late September, but the trend towards higher summer temperatures detected over the series as a whole appeared to have delayed the start of flowering and brought forward the end of flowering, thus prompting a shortening of the season. A trend was also observed towards a delayed peak pollen period, together with a significant decline in the Annual Pollen Index, which was significantly influenced by rainfall over the months immediately prior to flowering. Recovery Programmes implemented for three species— Artemisia granatensis, A. alba subsp. nevadensis and A. umbelliformis— involved conservation measures including direct seeding and planting of seedlings. From the outset, these programmes led to a recovery of the Pollen Index, especially when using germinated seedlings, which adapted better than seeds to environmental conditions. In conclusion, pollen records proved to be a useful tool for assessing the status of endangered species.