A statistical approach to comparing the results from different aerobiological stations

The recent increase in the number of aerobiological stations means that it is possible to make comparative studies, not only to ascertain similarities and differences between pollen counts in different places, but also to asc ertain the most suitable places for them to be situated and the most adequa te distance which should be established between them. To this end, we present a statistical comparison of the results obtained fo r the pollen of the ten most abundant taxa, as recorded in the sampling sta tions of Malaga and Estepona (South of Spain) during 1995-97. The stations are 90 km apart. The variables compared were the following: mean daily conc entrations (for each year and the total period studied), the mean concentra tion of the three years for the same date (trend) and the deviation from th is mean (for each year and taken as a whole). The interannual differences w ithin and between stations were taken into account as regards the associati on, concentration and distribution of the variables. The results of the tests applied point that significant differences between the two stations were observed for most of the pollen types studied. Despi te of this, a positive and significant correlation exists between the mean daily concentrations of the different taxa at the two stations, which is an important finding if we consider the possibility of making reliable predic tions for one sampling site based on the data obtained at the other.