Endemic species in the aerobiome? Evidence from floristic and aerobiological studies in the Italian Alps

Pollen as a proxy for plant diversity helps to interpret vegetation and/or to model vegetation shifts under climate change scenarios. Within the BIOALPEC project "Biodiversity in Alpine Ecosystems," we investigate the qualitative-quantitative input of pollen and spores on the bioaerosol of high altitudes exploring implications for ecosystem functioning and biodiversity. Here we present how the local flora and surrounding vegetation are sources of the bioaerosol at alpine receptor sites in Trentino, Italy. The methodology applied involves floristic studies and bioaerosol sampling with passive gravitational traps. We surveyed the flora at different local scales, starting from the aerobiological sampler: i) within a circle of 10 m radius; ii) in 5 randomized 2 x 2 m plots within a circle of 100 m radius; iii) along a transect of 1000 m x 2 m.