Macquarie University Associate Professor Paul Beggs's Phenology 2018 Conference presentation on the Australia-wide AusPollen network.

1. AusPollen: a revolution in Australian
aerobiology and understanding of
pollen phenology
Paul Beggs*, Alfredo Huete, Simon Haberle, Danielle Medek, Constance
Katelaris, Edward Newbigin, Bircan Erbas, Elizabeth Ebert, Rieks van Klinken,
Janet Davies
*Department of Environmental Sciences
Macquarie University
Sydney
1
Image by Dartmouth
Electron Microscope Facility,
Dartmouth College

2. AusPollen
AusPollen is a transdisciplinary, multi-institutional partnership established in
2013 for the research of airborne pollen in Australia.
Its scope spans the full range of aerobiological activities, from pollen monitoring
and reporting to forecasting and human health impacts.
It started with two 1-week workshops on North Stradbroke Island off the coast of
Queensland supported by the Australian Centre for Ecological Analysis &
Synthesis (ACEAS).
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3. Synthesis and Analysis of
Australian Airborne Pollen Data
Compilation of all available airborne pollen concentration data for Australia.
Analysis of spatial and temporal variability.
Analysis of relationships with weather and climate.
Development of forecasting capacity using meteorological, landscape ecology,
and other variables.
Collaboration with New Zealand and French colleagues to enable broader
regional and international comparisons.
3

4. The Australian (& NZ) Climate
4
Haberle et al.
PLoS One (2014)
9(5):e97925

5. 5
Haberle et al.
PLoS One (2014)
9(5):e97925
Climate and pollen
phenology (Poaceae
and non-native
arboreal taxa) for
Canberra (26 Sept
2007–31 Dec 2009).

6. 6
Haberle et al.
PLoS One (2014)
9(5):e97925

7. Grass Pollen Season Phenology
Variation in timing of grass pollen
season with latitude (a, c, e) and
average spring temperature (b, d, f).
Points represent medians, with bars
representing the interquartile range
when more than two values were
available.
7Medek et al. Aerobiologia (2016) 32:289–302

8. Grass Pollen Season Phenology
8Beggs et al. ANZJPH (2015) 39(1):51–55

9. Grass Pollen Season Phenology
Grass pollen phenology in some Australian
locations is complex due to a mix of temperate
(C3) and subtropical (C4) grasses.
9Medek et al. Aerobiologia (2016) 32:289–302
Ryegrass (C3)
Bahia grass (C4)

10. Remote Sensing of Grass
Phenology
Environmental Vegetation Index (EVI)
A proxy of canopy “greenness”, which is defined
as an integrative composite property of green leaf
area, green foliage cover and structure, and leaf
chlorophyll content.
A function of remotely sensed reflectances (ρ) in
the near infrared (nir), red, and blue bands.
Can, for example, define:
• Start of Greening Season
• Peak of Greening Season
• End of Greening Season
• Length of Greening Season
10
Devadas et al.
STE (2018)
633:441-451
(Ma et al. (2013) Remote
Sensing of Environment)

11. 11
Devadas et al.
STE (2018)
633:441-451

12. Remote Sensing of Grass
Phenology and Distribution
12
Xie, Huete, et al.
In preparation.
C4
BrisbaneSydney
Dominantly
C4
C3 & C4
mixed
C3
Grass species distribution - from peak of
growing season

13. Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma
Involved interaction between a line of
thunderstorms and extreme rye grass
pollen levels.
13
THE MELBOURNE NOVEMBER 2016 EVENT
Thien et al. Lancet Planet Health
(2018) 2:e255-e263

14. Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma
The seasonal context was important.
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THE MELBOURNE NOVEMBER 2016 EVENT
September October November
Rainfall
Deciles
Normalised
Difference
Vegetation
Index Anomaly

15. The Australian Standard
• Executive Summary
• Recommendations for Location of Airborne Pollen and Spore Monitoring
Sites
• Work Health and Safety Recommendations
• Sampling Technique
• Mounting and Counting Method
• Calculations
• Quality Control and Auditing
• Data Archive and Repository
• Appendices
• Minimum standards for the Victorian Thunderstorm Asthma Pollen
Surveillance (VicTAPS) Network (operationalised in Sept/Oct 2017)
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Beggs et al. (2018) to be published
by Australasian Society of Clinical
Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA)

16. Monitoring Sites
www.neii.gov.au/viewer
“Add data” → Environmental Monitoring Sites Register → Air
→ AusPollen Aerobiology Collaboration Monitoring Network
Click “Add to map”
Other sites currently
being established.
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NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SITES REGISTER

17. Conclusions
Through initial synthesis and analysis of Australian airborne pollen data, the
AusPollen partnership has revealed a striking spatial and temporal variability in
grass pollen seasons in Australia.
These are related to the diversity of Australia’s climates and the distribution of
C3 and C4 grasses, amongst other things.
Phenology derived from remote sensing data could provide information of C3
and C4 grass distribution.
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AND FUTURE CHALLENGES

18. Conclusions
While aeroallergen monitoring has significantly improved in Australia since 2013
(e.g., more monitors and standardisation), future challenges include:
• Continuation of the current network (all supported with fixed-term funding);
• Progression to automated monitoring;
• Advancement of research to better understand the complex phenology of
Australian airborne pollen and fungal spores using datasets that are longer
and from a greater diversity of locations.
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AND FUTURE CHALLENGES

19. Acknowledgements
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Partner Organisations
The AusPollen Partnership Project is supported (Sept 2016 – Aug 2020) by NHMRC
with matching in kind and cash contributions from partner organisations. Other
major funding sources are the ARC and Victorian Government.

20. Thank You for Your
Attention
paul.beggs@mq.edu.au
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