MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Fungal Spore Seasons Advanced Across the US Over Two Decades of Climate Change

Summary

Scientists studied fungal spores in the air across the United States from 2003 to 2022 and found that spore seasons are starting earlier due to climate change, particularly from warmer temperatures. These airborne fungal spores can trigger allergies and asthma symptoms in sensitive people. The research shows the amount of spores in the air is decreasing, but they arrive sooner in the year, which has important implications for managing allergies and public health.

Background

Phenological shifts due to climate change have been extensively studied in plants and animals, but fungal spore seasonality remains understudied despite their ecological importance and role as major airborne allergens. Understanding fungal spore phenology is crucial for assessing climate change impacts on ecosystems and public health.

Objective

To analyze long-term (2003-2022) airborne fungal spore data from 55 monitoring stations across the continental US to quantify climate-driven changes in fungal spore season phenology and intensity using both ecological and public health approaches.

Results

Fungal spore seasons advanced significantly by 11 days (ecological approach) and 22 days (public health approach) from 2003-2022, correlating with warmer temperatures and altered precipitation patterns. Peak and total spore concentrations showed non-significant to significant declines over the period. Earlier season onset was strongly associated with higher temperatures and lower precipitation.

Conclusion

Climate change has driven earlier onset of fungal spore seasons across the continental US with decreased intensity, with implications for both ecosystem functioning and allergenic exposure. These findings highlight the importance of climate change mitigation and adaptation in public health decision-making regarding fungal allergen exposure.
  • Published in:GeoHealth,
  • Study Type:Observational Study; Long-term Trend Analysis,
  • Source: 10.1029/2024GH001323; PMID: 40599758
Scroll to Top