{"paper_id":"26fb2b94-9d42-4e7f-a25d-94c5d1415fc3","body_text":"Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Alternaria and Cladosporium Spores in the Bowl-Shaped Bingöl Basin; with Particular Emphasis on the Prevailing Winds of the Mountainous Anatolian Plateau (Eastern Turkey) | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Alternaria and Cladosporium Spores in the Bowl-Shaped Bingöl Basin; with Particular Emphasis on the Prevailing Winds of the Mountainous Anatolian Plateau (Eastern Turkey) Can TURKOGLU, Omer SOLAK-AMET, Adem BICAKCI, Aycan TOSUNOGLU This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8041888/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Research has demonstrated that spores of Cladosporium Link and Alternaria Nées have significant allergenic effects on individuals who are highly susceptible to allergies. Additionally, species within these two genera have an adverse impact on important agricultural crops, resulting in reduced yields. This study aimed to investigate the annual, seasonal, and diurnal fluctuations of atmospheric spores from the genera Cladosporium and Alternaria over a two-year period in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey. The study was conducted in the city centre of Bingöl, using a Hirst-type sampler. A total of 25,264 Cladosporium and Alternaria spores were detected in the atmosphere during the study period. Cladosporium spores were approximately four times more abundant than Alternaria spores throughout the study. In both years, the highest spore concentrations were recorded in May. Alternaria spores exhibited concentrations above the daily allergy threshold value for only 6 days, but Cladosporium spores did not pose a risk for allergies. Main Spore Season (MSS) data were calculated for both types of spores, revealing that MSS started earlier in the first year than in the second year for Alternaria spores. The daily concentration of Cladosporium spores reached its highest level at noon, whereas Alternaria spore concentrations peaked in the morning. Evaluation of two years of daily data showed that the highest concentration of Alternaria spores occurred between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m., while Cladosporium spores peaked between 2:00 and 3:00 p.m. Significant differences between the two years were found for Alternaria and Cladosporium spore concentrations and related average humidity values; however, no differences were observed for other parameters. Daily Cladosporium spore concentrations exhibited a statistically significant positive correlation with wind speed and a significant negative correlation with rainfall. Due to Bingöl’s unique geographical structure, surrounded by very high mountains, peak days in the season, and timeless peaks in terms of spore concentrations, the possible origin of spore types was further evaluated using the HYSPLIT trajectory model. Airborne fungal spores Aeromycology Allergy Biomonitoring Meteorological parameters Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 1. Introduction Fungal spores constitute a significant portion of bioaerosols in the atmosphere (Haas et al., 2023 ). Although at present year-round, their atmospheric concentrations vary seasonally, depending on sporulation periods, and even fluctuate throughout the day (Oliveira et al., 2009 ). These variations are influenced by geographical location, meteorological factors, human activities, and the regional vegetation composition (Adhikari et al., 2016 ; Anees-Hill et al., 2022 ). Spores of the genera Cladosporium Link and Alternaria Nées are particularly important in aeromycological studies and are known to cause allergic and respiratory disorders in humans (Górzyńska et al., 2023 ). Cladosporium species are primarily identified as the main agents of respiratory disorders such as asthma and rhinitis, while Alternaria is among the allergens that cause allergic symptoms in the nose and bronchi (D'Amato et al., 1997 ; Bouziane et al., 2005 ; Filali et al., 2015). Furthermore, spores of Alternaria and Cladosporium also cause significant diseases and economic losses in agricultural products (Ogórek et al., 2012 ; Skjøth et al., 2016 ). Recent studies have shown that the sporulation periods of fungal spores like Alternaria and Cladosporium , which impact both human health and agriculture, have lengthened due to climate change and shifting meteorological patterns, resulting in increased exposure (Anees-Hill et al., 2022 ). Therefore, ongoing research is crucial to monitor fungal spore concentrations globally in the atmosphere. Investigations into the temporal and spatial distribution of airborne fungi have been extensively conducted in various regions worldwide (Gioulekas et al., 2004 ; Kasprzyk et al., 2004 ; Aira et al., 2012 ; Reyes et al., 2016 ; Bednarz and Pawłowska, 2016; Akgül et al., 2016 ; Kallawicha et al., 2017 ; Fang et al., 2019 ; Liu et al., 2019 ; Grinn-Gofroń et al., 2020 ., Sevindik and Tosunoglu, 2025 ). Once dispersed into the atmosphere, fungal spores can remain suspended in the air for periods ranging from a few hours to several days. It has been reported that the concentration of Cladosporium spores in the air shows a strong positive correlation with temperature, with low concentrations generally observed in coastal areas, while higher concentrations are recorded in continental centers and inland areas (Sindt et al., 2016 ). Similarly, it has been demonstrated that the concentration of Alternaria spores in the air shows a strong positive correlation with both humidity and temperature, and that concentrations are generally higher in temperate and warm climates (Reis and Boiteux, 2010 ). Therefore, the physical structure and location of the region studied in atmospheric fungal spore research, along with meteorological conditions, are crucial factors for interpreting the results. Although numerous aeromycological studies have been conducted across many regions of Europe, significant data gaps remain, particularly in certain areas (Oliveira et al., 2009 ). Understanding the diversity and abundance of airborne fungal spores, along with their seasonal, daily, and intra-diurnal variations influenced by meteorological conditions, facilitates the development of predictive models for atmospheric spore concentrations (Grinn-Gofroń and Strzelczak, 2008 , 2009 ). The identification of bioaerosols that are both economically and health-relevant, such as Alternaria and Cladosporium species, and their regional investigation using atmospheric models like the Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model is a valuable approach (Sadyś et al., 2015 ). Compared to pollen, atmospheric research on fungal spores is relatively limited. Therefore, more detailed and long-term studies are needed in regions where atmospheric fungal spore concentrations remain undetermined. Aeromycological main data are still insufficient, especially in the eastern regions of Turkey. The objectives of the research are delineated as follows: (1) to understand the distribution of Cladosporium and Alternaria spores within the atmospheric conditions of Bingöl (E-Turkey) over a two-year timeframe, (2) to calculate the spore season severity and timing, (3) to monitor intra-diurnal patterns of Alternaria and Cladosporium spores, (4) to determine the geographical origin of rises in Alternaria and Cladosporium spore concentrations recorded in Bingöl (E-Turkey) for studied years. 2. Material and Methods 2.1. Study Area Bingöl is a city located in the upper reaches of the Euphrates River in Eastern Anatolia (41°20'-39°54' N, 38°27'-40°27' E), with an elevation of 1,151 meters (Fig. 1 ). Characterised by its rugged terrain, the city is surrounded by mountains with elevations of nearly 3,000 meters, giving it a bowl-shaped appearance. The plain, situated centrally within the city, is encircled by these mountains (Fig. 1 ). The pressure differential between the mountains and the plains generates airflow from the mountains toward the plains, resulting in prevailing winds that blow from the N-NNE throughout the province. While drought and heat dominate the summer months, abundant rainfall occurs in spring and autumn. Although the harsh continental climate typical of Eastern Anatolia is somewhat alleviated in the Upper Euphrates area, it remains milder compared to the surrounding regions. The average annual temperature is 12.2°C, and the total annual precipitation is 947.6 mm, according to the Turkish State Meteorological Service (mean values for the period 1961–2023). Bingöl Province, located within the basins of the Aras and Euphrates rivers, contains the largest forested area in Eastern Anatolia. The most prevalent tree and shrub species in these forested regions up to an elevation of 1,200 meters are oaks. Other naturally occurring tree species include: Betula verrucosa Ehrh., Crataegus monogyna Jacq., Elaeagnus angustifolia L., Fraxinus excelsior L., Juglans regia L., Populus alba L., Populus nigra L., Pyrus salicifolia Pall., Salix alba L., Ulmus glabra Huds., Acer platanoides L., Alnus glutinosa L., Celtis australis L., Crataegus orientalis Paal. Ex. M. Bieb, Populus tremula L., Sorbus aucuparia L., and Sorbus torminalis L. The shrub species include Cornus alba L., Cotoneaster horizontalis Decne., Juniperus horizontalis L., Rosa canina L., and Tamarix tetrandra Poll. The forests of Bingöl are generally characterised as sparse, with the flora predominantly consisting of shrubby areas. Steps are observed at higher altitudes. Consequently, anthropogenic steppes have become the dominant vegetation in these regions (Özbay et al., 2015 ; Ahmet et al., 2016 ; Mansuroğlu & Dağ, 2016 ). Wheat, barley, clover, paddy, chickpeas, beans, potatoes, vetch, sainfoin, and maize are among the most widely cultivated field crops in Bingöl (Özbay et al., 2015 ). 2.2. Aeromycological study In a study conducted in Bingöl Province, atmospheric sampling was performed during 2018–2019 using a Hirst-type particle sampler (Lanzoni VPPS 2000). The device operated continuously and was calibrated to aspirate 10 L/min air in every sampling week, for two consecutive years (from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2019). Melinex® tape, which was first placed by applying silicone oil, was removed from the sampling drum together with the adherent atmospheric particles and cut into daily fragments. Atmospheric sampling and analyses were carried out as described by the Spanish Aerobiological Network (REA) (Galán et al., 2007 , 2014 ), with modifications that included dividing the slides transversely into 24 intervals instead of 12 and detecting diurnal variations. Spore concentrations were expressed as the number of pollen grains per 1 m³ of air, according to the technical specification CEN/TS 16868 (European Committee for Standardization, 2015). The Main Spore Season (MSS) has been defined by the method that calculates the start of this period as the date by which 5% of the total year spore record was registered, and the end with the 95% captured (Nilsson and Persson, 1981 ). Within the scope of this study, hourly data were collected during the day. To categorise the data, the day was first divided into four distinct time periods, similar to methodologies commonly used in pollen research. These periods were defined as follows: night from 00:00 to 06:00, morning from 06:00 to 12:00, noon from 12:00 to 18:00, and evening from 18:00 to 00:00. Consequently, the concentration changes of both fungal spores throughout the day were graphed and analysed on an hourly basis (Tosunoglu and Bicakci, 2015 ). 2.3. HYSPLIT Back Trajectory Analysis and Meteorological Data We analysed unusual occurrences, such as the high concentrations of Alternaria spores observed at the beginning of the second year, which caused the MSS period to start three months earlier in the second year than in the first year. Therefore, it seemed highly unlikely that these spores originated from local sources. To identify their possible origin, back-trajectory analyses of air masses were conducted. The Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) modelling system (Air Resources Laboratory, 2025) was used to calculate backward trajectories (Stein et al., 2015 ). HYSPLIT trajectories were calculated 72 hours back in time, with 1-hour steps between each trajectory event. This approach has also been used in previous atmospheric fungal spore studies to identify potential source regions for spores (Fernández-Rodríguez et al., 2015 ; Sadyś et al., 2015 ; Grinn-Gofroń et al., 2016 ). The meteorological datasets were provided by the Turkish State Meteorological Service. Annual statistics on daily mean temperature, daily relative humidity, daily total precipitation, and daily mean wind speed were employed for the comparative analysis of meteorological data with airborne fungal spore concentrations of Alternaria and Cladosporium for the studied years. 2.4. Statistical Analysis The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was applied to the weekly data for normality testing, and negative results were obtained (p < 0.05). Spearman’s correlation analysis was performed to correlate the daily concentrations of Alternaria and Cladosporium spores with concurrent data on meteorological parameters (mean daily relative humidity, mean daily temperature, mean daily wind speed, and daily total rainfall) using the same-day data. To compare the two sampling years in terms of spore concentrations and meteorological parameters, a non-parametric Mann–Whitney U test was performed with a 95% confidence interval. The statistical analyses were performed using the IBM SPSS software package version 22.0 (SPSS, Chicago, Illinois, USA). 3. Results In a two-year study conducted in Bingöl Province, a total of 15.614 spores belonging to Cladosporium and Alternaria were counted in 2018. In the following year, a total of 9.651 spores were recorded. Of these, 12.290 spores in the first year and 7.641 spores in the second year were identified as Cladosporium . The number of Alternaria spores counted in the first year was 3.324, whereas this number was 2.010 in the second year. Analysing the data, it is evident that more spores were counted in the first year, with a notable decline in the second year of the study. Both Cladosporium and Alternaria showed a decrease in the total number of spores in the second year. Variation of the monthly concentration of Cladosporium and Alternaria spores is illustrated in Fig. 2 . Notably, the first peaks for both taxa occurred in the same month across both years. Both taxa began to exhibit an increase in concentration in April, culminating in their first peaks in May. In May 2018, the concentration of Cladosporium reached 6.390 spores, marking the highest monthly value recorded throughout the study. In the following year, although the first peak occurred during the same period, the number of spores was 2.946, which was dramatically lower than in the first year. After the first peak, a decreasing trend was observed in both years, continuing until July in the first year and until June in the second year. In the second year, Cladosporium concentration increased in July and August, reaching 719 spores in August. A small peak occurred in September of the first year, with a concentration of 449 spores, making it the second-highest concentration recorded after the first peak. In the second year, the second largest peak occurred in October, with a spore concentration of 1.752 spores, indicating a peak period with a higher concentration than the second peak in the first year. Therefore, although the first peaks occurred in the same month, specifically May of both years, the concentration ratios exhibited some differences in the subsequent period. When the fungal spore concentrations of Alternaria are analysed, it is seen that the first peak occurs in May for both years, just like Cladosporium . If we look at the concentration difference between the two years, the first peak in May of the first year was 1.562 spores, while the concentration of the first peak in the second year was 968 spores. Following this initial peak, there was no subsequent large increase in Alternaria concentration in either year. Only in August of the second year, there was a small increase with 317 spores. The first peaks and the highest concentrations of both taxa were observed in May. According to the data obtained, Cladosporium dominated the atmospheric concentrations of Cladosporium and Alternaria in Bingöl Province throughout the study. The threshold concentrations triggering allergic symptoms for Alternaria and Cladosporium spores are reported as 100 spores/m³ of air and 3,000 spores/m³ of air, respectively (Gravesen, 1979 ). In our study, it was determined that Alternaria spores exceeded allergy threshold values on a total of 6 days (11 May, 13–16 May and 17 June) in 2018, and on 2 days (6–7 May) in 2019, but Cladosporium spores never exceeded allergy threshold values throughout the study (Fig. 3 ). When reviewing the dynamics of the Main Spore Season; the MSS periods for Cladosporium spores (207 − 200 days), start (7 April − 12 April) and end dates (30 October − 28 October), peak days (7 May − 10 May), and peak concentrations (629 − 485 spores/day) were found to be consistent across the two years. However, the October peak recorded in the second year is noteworthy (Fig. 3 ). The situation for Alternaria spores was recorded as being quite different from that for Cladosporium spores; for Alternaria , the MSS began on 10 February in the first year, while in the second year it began almost three months later (5 May). MSS periods were recorded as 218 and 163 days, while MSS end dates were recorded as 15 September and 14 October. Despite this, peak days have been found to be compatible (13 May − 6 May) (Fig. 3 ). On the other hand, the peak days for Alternaria and Cladosporium spores have been very close to each other in both years, with the first and second weeks of May being particularly noteworthy in this regard (Fig. 3 ). When regional winds during peak days were examined, the average wind speed in May of the first year was 0.66 km/h, while on the day Cladosporium spores peaked, a wind speed of 1.0 km/h was recorded, and on the day Alternaria spores peaked, a wind speed of 0.8 km/h was recorded, both above averages. In the second year, the May average was 0.72 km/h. On the day when Cladosporium spores peaked, the wind speed was 1.1 km/h, and on the day when Alternaria spores peaked, it was 0.9 km/h, both of which were above average. For both spore types, it was observed that N-NE winds prevailed on peak days in the first year, consistent with the monthly prevailing winds. In contrast, in the second year, E-SE winds prevailed on peak days, which was contrary to the monthly prevailing winds (Fig. 3 ). We conducted 72-hour back-trajectory analyses for Alternaria and Cladosporium spores, focusing on the peak days and periods when their hourly concentrations reached their highest levels (Fig. 4 ). Here, we used the day and hour when the spores were at their highest concentration in both years (Fig. 4 -A, B, D, E), while also evaluating the autumn peak of Cladosporium spores, which was more pronounced in the second year (Fig. 4 -C). In addition, an unusual situation that caught our attention was the higher-than-normal concentrations on 20 and 25 February in the second year, which caused Alternaria spores to start the MSS period three months earlier (Fig. 3 , 4 -F, G). The Bingöl province is notable for its bowl-shaped geographical structure, with an elevation of nearly 1100 m, and is surrounded by mountains that reach approximately 3000 m in height. Back-trajectory analyses for these dates revealed that local winds and winds originating from the Mesopotamia lowland were effective during the first year's peaks (Fig. 4 -A,D), while high winds originating from Russia, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Georgia, and Armenia at altitudes of 4000 m and above were effective during the second year's peaks of both spore concentrations (Fig. 4 -B,E). In the untimely February peaks of the Alternaria , winds originating from the south over the Mesopotamia lowland were again found to be influential (Fig. 4 -F,G). When analyzing the average spore counts of Cladosporium and Alternaria across four periods of the day over two years, several trends emerged. In the first year, Cladosporium spore counts were lowest at night and peaked at noon, followed by a decline in the evening hours. In the second year of the study, Cladosporium concentrations increased at noon but decreased during other times of the day (Fig. 5 ). Thus, in both years, Cladosporium concentrations were highest at noon. When the intra-diurnal concentration of Alternaria fungal spores was analyzed, it was observed that the concentration was highest in the morning in both the first and the second year (Fig. 5 ). Similar to Cladosporium , the lowest concentrations were observed at night. After the morning, the concentration tended to decrease toward noon and then increase again toward evening. Hourly data between the two years showed that the concentrations were similar for both taxa; that is, the concentration of Alternaria in the atmosphere increased in the morning hours, while the concentration of Cladosporium fungal spores tended to increase at noon. In the first year, the daily loads of Cladosporium and Alternaria in the atmosphere were higher, while in the second year, they were lower. When the intra-diurnal variations of Alternaria and Cladosporium spore concentrations were evaluated, it was determined that Alternaria spore concentrations in the atmosphere was more intense between 08:00–09:00 in the morning during the first year and between 09:00–10:00 in the morning during the second year, while Cladosporium spore concentration was more intense between 14:00–15:00 in the afternoon in the first year and between 09:00–10:00 in the morning in the second year (Fig. 6 ). In the cumulative evaluation of the two years, it was determined that the intradiurnal concentrations of Alternaria spores were highest between 08:00–09:00, and Cladosporium spores were highest between 14:00–15:00 (Fig. 6 ). In the statistical analyses, the data were tested for conformity to a normal distribution and were found not to follow a normal distribution ( p < 0.05). Therefore, non-parametric tests were used for the statistical evaluation of the data set. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was applied to determine whether spore concentrations and meteorological data of taxa differed between years. For each variable, the hypothesis of \"no difference between years\" was tested. The test results showed that Alternaria, Cladosporium , and relative mean humidity differed significantly between the two years ( p < 0,05), while no differences were found for the other parameters ( p > 0,05). The correlation between daily concentrations of Alternaria and Cladosporium spores and meteorological data was examined using Spearman's test. In 2018, Cladosporium spores exhibited a statistically significant ( p < 0.05) positive correlation with wind speed (coefficient correlation 0.133). In 2018, no significant correlation was observed between the spore concentrations of taxa and meteorological data. When Spearman's test was applied to the combined data from the two years, a significant ( p < 0.05) negative correlation was found between Cladosporium spores and precipitation values (correlation coefficient − 0.088). 4. Discussion The data obtained in our study of the atmosphere in Bingöl Province showed that annual total Alternaria spore concentrations in the atmosphere of Bingöl Province are lower than those of Cladosporium spores. However, Alternaria spores in the atmosphere are considered to be more allergenic and the reason for this situation is that the biomass of Alternaria spores has a greater value than Cladosporium spores (Takahashi, 1997 ; Dixit et al, 2000 ; Şen and Asan, 2001 ) and for this reason, the allergy threshold value is lower than that for Cladosporium (Gravesen, 1979 ). The Cladosporium genus constitutes the majority of fungal spores in the atmosphere worldwide. Like Cladosporium, Alternaria species live as saprophytes or parasites on many plants, and these two fungal spore species are the most dominant aeroallergens (Nussbaum, 1991 ). In our study, we evaluated the monthly spore concentrations in 2018 in conjunction with meteorological factors and compared them with those from 2019. It was predicted that the reason for the formation of different concentration peaks could be evaluated as the sporulation periods of different species and the meteorological factors affecting them, as suggested by Dugan et al. ( 2004 ). In January 2019, the average temperature was − 1.03⁰С, indicating that the winter months were colder than those in 2018. The average temperature in April 2018 was 14.35⁰С °C, while in April 2019, it was 9.33⁰С. Therefore, it can be concluded that spring in 2019 was colder and started later than in 2018. Correspondingly, the faster warming of the air in spring of 2018 was accompanied by a more rapid increase in fungal spore concentrations compared to 2019 (Fig. 2 ). It is known that Alternaria and Cladosporium spores are positively correlated with optimum temperature and solar intensity (Solomon, 1978 ; Hjelmroos, 1993 ; Angulo-Romero et al., 1999 ; Corden and Millington, 2001 ; Giner et al., 2001 ; Troutt and Levetin, 2001 ; Stennett and Beggs, 2004 ). However, the statistical results in our study did not reveal a positive correlation between spores and temperature. In both years, Cladosporium spores exhibited spring and autumn peaks, whereas Alternaria spores showed a clear spring peak. In September 2018, with an average temperature of 22.63 ⁰С, the autumn peak of Cladosporium spores could be distinguished, albeit faintly (Fig. 2 ). The average monthly humidity during this peak was 37.40%. In September 2019, the temperature was still above 27°C, similar to July and August, and the humidity was the lowest of the year at 30.50%. Therefore, sporulation of fungi could only start in October, when the temperature reached 22.57% and humidity 34.51%, forming the autumn concentration peak of Cladosporium spores. As a result, the fact that the winter of 2019 was harsher and the summer was hotter and drier was considered the reason why Alternaria and Cladosporium spore concentrations were lower in 2019 compared to 2018. Vegetation serves as the primary substrate for fungi. Due to its geographical location, Bingöl Province is a basin surrounded by high mountains and should not be overlooked, as it contains the largest forested area in Eastern Anatolia. In winter, vegetation is not thought to significantly affect fungal spores in the atmosphere. This is because many plants are defoliated in winter, the existing leaves are often covered with snow, and air temperature usually has a significant effect on sporulation. Cladosporium and Alternaria , which are parasitic or saprophytic on plants and their numbers increase with the emergence of plants, which explains why fungal spores are more abundant in spring when temperatures are optimum (Li and Kendrick, 1994 ). The average temperature of the atmosphere of Bingöl province in July-August in 2018 and 2019 was around 27⁰С, and in our study, it was evaluated that the decrease in fungal spore concentration in summer was due to high temperature, high solar intensity and low humidity (Aira et al., 2012 ; Calderón et al., 1997 ). Fungal spores only develop below a certain temperature threshold, and therefore, it is known that spore concentration decreases at extremely high or low temperatures (Oliveira et al., 2005 ). It has been determined that the intensity of spores increases in late summer and autumn and reaches its lowest levels in winter months such as January and February, with Cladosporium and Alternaria peaking in September (Oliveira et al., 2005 ). Two studies conducted in western and northeastern Greece found that Cladosporium and Alternaria spores were the most frequently detected spores during the summer months (Katsimpris et al., 2022 ; Komnos et al., 2022 ). Similarly, a study in southwestern Iran reported that Cladosporium and Alternaria spores were more prevalent than other fungal spores during the spring and autumn months (Fatahinia et al., 2018 ). Based on the results of studies conducted in this field and our own findings, the reasons for the peaks occurring in spring and autumn are becoming clearer. Conversely, although changes in humidity and precipitation are less determinant of spore concentrations than temperature changes, it is known that fungi typically require moisture for growth and sporulation, and many spores are transported in the atmosphere (Pakpour et al., 2015 ). Due to the washing effect of heavy rainfall, spore concentrations in the atmosphere can be severely reduced. Previously, Katial et al. ( 1997 ) in Denver (Colorado/USA), Hollins et al. ( 2004 ) in Britain, Oliveira et al. ( 2009 ) in Portugal, and Aira et al. ( 2008 , 2012 ) in the Iberian Peninsula determined that the decrease in rainfall increased spore concentrations in the atmosphere. In our study, in parallel with these studies, it was determined that high rainfall and humidity had a negative effect on spore concentration in the atmosphere. Therefore, it is considered as a normal result that a significant ( p < 0.05) negative correlation (correlation coefficient − 0.088) was found between Cladosporium spores and precipitation manual values in our study. In this study, carried out in the atmosphere of Bingöl Province, Cladosporium spores showed a statistically significant ( p < 0.05) positive correlation (correlation coefficient 0.133) with wind speed. However, although it is stated that wind speed has no effect on spore concentrations in the atmosphere, Cladosporium and Alternaria spores are known to be easily dispersed by wind (Li and Kendrick, 1994 ) and are thought to influence the diversity of fungal spores across different regions. Giner et al. ( 2001 ) concluded that spore concentration in the atmosphere has a positive relationship with wind speed in their study, while other studies have not found a relationship between spore concentration in the atmosphere and wind speed (Sabariego et al., 2000 ; Burch and Levetin, 2002 ). It is thought that the differences between studies on the effect of wind speed on fungal spore concentrations in the atmosphere may be due to variations in sampling areas and the presence of natural and artificial barriers, as well as long-distance transport in these areas. Setting aside all these meteorological parameters that are not statistically significant and evaluating the situation from an MSS perspective, if we assess Alternaria and Cladosporium spores by considering the wind and geographical conditions of the study area; although these spores are most commonly found in the atmosphere in May, it can be said that MSS periods generally occur between April and October, with an average MSS period length of approximately 200 days (Fig. 3 ). Reviewing other studies, for example, MSS periods were found to be similar in Salamanca (M-W Spain); however, it was reported that the maximum concentration of Cladosporium spores occurred during the June-July period (Antón et al., 2019 ). From the Black Sea coast, MSS periods have been reported to begin earlier than in Europe but later than in Bingöl (Grinn-Gofroń et al. 2020 ). In Elazığ Province, located immediately west of the study area, the peak periods for Alternaria spores and Cladosporium spores were determined to be July and June, respectively (Kilic et al., 2020 ). However, the altitude between these two provinces is quite similar, and the fact that the peak for both spore concentrations in Bingöl occurred in May in both years is thought-provoking when comparing these two neighbouring regions. This situation has necessitated that we consider the possibility that spores may not be wholly locally sourced, especially in peak times. As a result of these analyses, the region is particularly interesting when its geographical features are taken into account. This is due to the region's harsh climate on a plateau surrounded by high mountains. Consequently, it is nearly impossible to ignore local winds such as anabatic and katabatic winds in this area. These winds typically blow from the plateau toward the mountains during the day and from the mountains back to the plateau at night. It can be assumed that these local winds carry Alternaria and Cladosporium spores originating from local sources, namely the region's forests, throughout the year. Calderón et al. ( 1997 ) attributed the different concentration trends observed in geographically distinct regions to variations in atmospheric parameters. They reported that high concentrations generally occur at specific times of the day when temperature and wind speed are sufficient to break the conidial chains. However, this situation naturally applies to locally originating fungal spores. Conversely, during the peak periods of both spores, southerly winds from the Mesopotamia plain and simoom winds, which move from low altitudes toward the mountainous region, likely transport high concentrations of Alternaria and Cladosporium spores (Fig. 4 ). However, in the second year, peaks and strong winds from the Caspian Sea and northern countries, such as Russia, Kazakhstan, and Armenia, become prominent. Therefore, during the sporulation period in the second year, the humid boreas (northeast) wind, originating from very high altitudes, may have caused the low spore concentrations observed in the region in May. Taken together, the significant difference in total spore concentration between the first and second years, along with the back-trajectory analysis, indicates that the source of the spores is a critical factor. In this context, simoom winds coming from the south can be considered responsible for high spore concentrations, while boreas (northeast) winds likely contribute to low spore concentrations in the region. Given that the southern part of the study area is home to the Mesopotamian plain formed by the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, and considering that the winds also blow across this region in both, the high concentrations of spores gain even greater significance. Since ancient times, wheat has been the main agricultural product in the Mesopotamian crescent. Croplands are identified as a potential primary source of Alternaria and Cladosporium spores in previous studies (Olsen et al., 2020 ; Grinn-Gofroń et al., 2020 ), which also supports the possibility of long-distance transport to the region. Back-trajectory analysis is a method used to trace the previous movement of air masses carrying fungal spores, thereby identifying potential source areas. Fungal spores transported by wind can travel horizontally over several kilometers (Levetin, 2016 ). A study conducted in Europe, focusing on Alternaria fungal spores, demonstrated that spores could be transported up to 600 km from southern to northern Europe by wind (Grewling et al., 2022 ). A striking and unusual situation here is that in the second year, there was an increase in Alternaria spores, causing the MSS period to begin in February. To evaluate both the days with maximum concentrations in both years and the abnormal February peaks, back-trajectory analyses were performed (Fig. 4 ). The unexpected peaks of Alternaria spores on February 20 and 25 of the second year revealed that the source of these spores was also in the southern regions (Fig. 4 ). Therefore, it can be inferred that prevailing winds originating from the south in February are responsible for introducing exogenous spores into the atmosphere over the Bingöl region. Although some studies have used HYSPLIT back-trajectory analyses to determine whether fungal spores originate from local or external sources, such studies are limited in number (Sadyś et al., 2015 ; Grinn-Gofroń et al., 2016 ) and represent the first data for the region where this study was conducted. A series of studies on atmospheric fungal spores have shown that the highest concentrations are recorded in the afternoon or late evening, and the lowest concentrations are recorded at night or in the early morning (Ricci et al., 1995 ; Rodriguez-Rajo and Iglesias, 2005; Thibaudon and Lachasse, 2006 ; Aira et al., 2008 ; Oliveira et al., 2009 ; Skjøth et al., 2012 ). The literature indicates that atmospheric fungal spore concentrations vary throughout the day (Hameed et al., 2009 ). In our study, the hours when Alternaria spores reached their highest levels in the atmosphere were determined to be between 09:00 and 10:00 a.m. in both years (Fig. 6 ). When comparing the daily distribution of Alternaria spores with other studies, it was observed that some of the reported data were consistent with our findings, while others differed. For example, in a study conducted in Tetouan, Morocco, the time interval during which Alternaria spores were found in maximum quantities during the day was 12:00–14:00 (Bardei et al., 2017 ), in Poznan, Poland, between 20:00 and 22:00 (Stach, 1997 ), in the United Kingdom, at 20:00 (Corden and Millington, 2001 ), and in Stockholm, Sweden, at 08:00 (Hjelmroos, 1993 ), and in a study conducted in the city of Murcia, Spain, between 5:00 and 6:00 a.m. (Giner et al., 1998 ). However, it is known that the genus Alternaria prefers hours with less intense sunlight for sporulation (Srivastava and Wadhwani, 1992). The increase in fungal spore concentration during the morning hours can be attributed to the rise in atmospheric temperature and wind speed (Jones and Harrison, 2004 ). Burch and Levetin ( 2002 ) noted that fungal spore concentrations in the atmosphere peak at 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. and explained this phenomenon as being due to an increase in wind speed. Similar to Alternaria , Cladosporium concentrations also increased during the same hours of the day within the specified time range. However, Cladosporium was found to be most abundant in the atmosphere between 14:00 and 15:00 (Fig. 6 ). Likewise, studies conducted in Finland, Canada, and Morocco have reported increases in Cladosporium concentrations during midday hours (Helander and Pessi, 1991 ; Li and Kendrick, 1995 ; Bardei et al., 2017 ). Therefore, it has been observed once again that the concentrations of both fungal spores in the atmosphere vary at different hourly intervals throughout the day. This variation is attributed, in part, to the changing meteorological parameters during the day, as stated by Calderón et al. ( 1997 ). 5. Conclusions Fungal spores in the atmosphere are a significant contributor to seasonal allergic symptoms, such as allergic sensitivity and asthma, and they also cause substantial economic losses in agriculture. The fungal spores of Cladosporium and Alternaria are particularly important in this context. Although numerous studies worldwide have monitored atmospheric fungal spores, scientific data remain limited and insufficient in some regions. This two-year study, conducted in Bingöl province-located in the upper reaches of the Euphrates River and characterised by a geographically unique and remarkable landscape-revealed that Cladosporium spores are more dominant than Alternaria spores. Additionally, the highest concentrations of both fungal spores were identified during the day over this period. While Alternaria peaked in the morning hours, Cladosporium concentrations increased in the afternoon. Another important finding was that the mean spore season (MSS) values for Alternaria differed between the two years. The study demonstrated that the atmospheric Alternaria load in the region was significantly influenced by external sources. The first HYSPLIT analysis conducted in the area revealed that winds from the south, particularly from this direction, transported substantial amounts of Alternaria spores to the region. In addition to the region’s rich forest resources, it was observed that fungal spores carried by both southern and northern winds could be significant. The study also highlighted the importance of spore concentration peaks occurring in April, particularly in relation to human health and agricultural activities. Therefore, fungal spores can be transported by wind to a considerable extent and, in some cases, may lead to unexpected outcomes. Consequently, while further research is necessary, more detailed studies are essential to gain a better understanding of fungal spore transport and sources in geographically specific areas. Declarations All authors have read, understood, and have complied as applicable with the statement on “Ethical responsibilities of Authors” as found in the Instructions for Authors. Acknowledgments Part of this work is the first author's master's thesis. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Prof. Dr. Hasan Akgül and the scholarship students who contributed through their involvement in fieldwork. Funding statement The materials used in this research were funded from the KBAG-117Z252 project of Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK). References Adhikari, P., Khatri-Chhetri, G. B., Shrestha, S. M., & Marahatta, S. (2016). Study on Prevalence of mycoflora in wheat seeds. Turkish Journal of Agriculture-Food Science and Technology , 4 (1), 31-35. https://doi.org/10.24925/turjaf.v4i1.31-35.509 Ahmet, C. A. F., Irmak, M. A., & Yılmaz, H. (2016). Bingöl ili yeşil alanlarında kullanılan odunsu bitkiler ve kullanım amaçları. Iğdır Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü Dergisi , 6 (2), 103-110. Air Resources Laboratory. HYSPLIT—Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory. Available from https://www.ready.noaa.gov/HYSPLIT_traj.php Aira, M. J., Rodríguez-Rajo, F. J., & Jato, V. (2008). 47 annual records of allergenic fungi spore: Predictive models from the NW Iberian Peninsula. Ann Agric Environ Med , 15 (1), 91-98. Aira, M. J., Rodríguez-Rajo, F. J., Fernández-González, M., Seijo, C., Elvira-Rendueles, B., Gutiérrez-Bustillo, M., ... & Muñoz-Rodríguez, A. F. (2012). Cladosporium airborne spore incidence in the environmental quality of the Iberian Peninsula. Grana , 51 (4), 293-304. https://doi.org/10.1080/00173134.2012.717636 Akgül, H., Yılmazkaya, D., Akata, I., Tosunoğlu, A. & Bıçakçı, A. (2016). Determination of airborne fungal spores of Gaziantep (SETurkey). Aerobiologia 32 : 441–452. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-015-9417-z Anees-Hill, S., Douglas, P., Pashley, C. H., Hansell, A., & Marczylo, E. L. (2022). A systematic review of outdoor airborne fungal spore seasonality across Europe and the implications for health. Science of the Total Environment , 818 , 151716. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151716 Angulo-Romero, J., Mediavilla-Molina, A., & Domínguez-Vilches, E. (1999). Conidia of Alternaria in the atmosphere of the city of Cordoba, Spain in relation to meteorological parameters. International Journal of Biometeorology , 43 (1), 45-49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004840050115 Antón, S. F., de la Cruz, D. R., Sánchez, J. S., & Sánchez Reyes, E. (2019). Analysis of the airborne fungal spores present in the atmosphere of Salamanca (MW Spain): a preliminary survey. Aerobiologia , 35 (3), 447-462. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-019-09569-z Bardei, F., Bouziane, H., Trigo, M. D. M., Ajouray, N., El Haskouri, F., & Kadiri, M. (2017). Atmospheric concentrations and intradiurnal pattern of Alternaria and Cladosporium conidia in Tétouan (NW of Morocco). Aerobiologia , 33 (2), 221-228. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-016-9465-z Bednarz, A., & Pawlowska, S. (2016). A fungal spore calendar for the atmosphere of Szczecin, Poland. Acta agrobotanica , 69 (3). Bouziane, H., Latge, J. P., Fitting, C., Mecheri, S., Lelong, M., & David, B. (2005). Comparison of the allergenic potency of spores and mycelium of Cladosporium . Allergologia et immunopathologia , 33 (3), 125-130. https://doi.org/10.1157/13075694 Burch, M., & Levetin, E. (2002). Effects of meteorological conditions on spore plumes. International journal of biometeorology , 46 (3), 107-117. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-002-0127-1 Calderón, C., Lacey, J., McCartney, A., & Rosas, I. (1997). Influence of urban climate upon distribution of airborne Deuteromycete spore concentrations in Mexico City. International Journal of Biometeorology , 40 (2), 71-80. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004840050021 Corden, J. M., & Millington, W. M. (2001). The long-term trends and seasonal variation of the aeroallergen Alternaria in Derby, UK. Aerobiologia , 17 (2), 127-136. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010876917512 D'amato, G., Chatzigeorgiou, G., Corsico, R., Gioulekas, D., Jäger, L., Jäger, S., ... & Wuthrich, B. (1997). Evaluation of the prevalence of skin prick test positivity to Alternaria and Cladosporium in patients with suspected respiratory allergy: a European multicenter study promoted by the Subcommittee on Aerobiology and Environmental Aspects of Inhalant Allergens of the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology. Allergy , 52 (7), 711-716. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1398-9995.1997.tb01227.x Dixit, A., Lewis, W., Baty, J., Crozier, W., & Wedner, J. (2000). Deuteromycete aerobiology and skin-reactivity patterns - A two year concurrent study in Corpus Christi, Texas, USA. Grana , 39 (4), 209-218. https://doi.org/10.1080/00173130051084368 Dugan, F. M., Schubert, K., & Braun, U. (2004). Check-list of Cladosporium names. Schlechtendalia , 11 , 1-103. Dugan, F. M., Schubert, K., & Braun, U. (2004). Check-list of Cladosporium names. Schlechtendalia, 11 , 1-103. European Committee for Standardization. Technical Specification CEN/TS 16868: 2015. Ambient air. Sampling and analysis of airborne pollen grains and fungal spores for allergy networks. Volumetric Hirst method. Available from: http://shop.bsigroup.com/ProductDetail/?pid=000000000030314080 Fang, Z., Zhang, J., Guo, W., & Lou, X. (2019). Assemblages of culturable airborne fungi in a typical urban, tourism-driven center of southeast China. Aerosol and Air Quality Research , 19 (4), 820-831. https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2018.02.0042 Fatahinia, M., Zarei-Mahmoudabadi, A., Shokri, H., & Ghaymi, H. (2018). Monitoring of mycoflora in outdoor air of different localities of Ahvaz, Iran. Journal de mycologie medicale , 28 (1), 87-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mycmed.2017.12.002 Fernández-Rodríguez, S., Sadyś, M., Smith, M., Tormo-Molina, R., Skjøth, C. A., Maya-Manzano, J. M., ... & Gonzalo-Garijo, Á. (2015). Potential sources of airborne Alternaria spp. spores in South-west Spain. Science of the Total Environment , 533 , 165-176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.06.031 Filali Ben Sidel, F., Bouziane, H., del Mar Trigo, M., El Haskouri, F., Bardei, F., Redouane, A., ... & Kazzaz, M. (2015). Airborne fungal spores of Alternaria , meteorological parameters and predicting variables. International Journal of Biometeorology , 59 (3), 339-346. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-014-0845-1 Galán, C., Cariñanos González, P., Alcázar Teno, P., Domínguez Vilches, E. (2007). Spaniesh Aerobiology Network (REA): Management and Quality Manual. Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universited de Cordoba, Cordoba. Galán, C., Smith, M., Thibaudon, M., Frenguelli, G., Oteros, J., Gehrig, R., Berger, U., Clot, B., Brandao, R., EAS QC Working Group (2014). Pollen monitoring: minimum requirements and reproducibility of analysis. Aerobiologia 30, 385–395. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-014-9335-5 Giner, M. M., Carrión García, J., & Navarro Camacho, C. (2001). Airborne Alternaria spores in SE Spain (1993-98). Grana , 40 (3). https://doi.org/10.1080/00173130152625842 Giner, M. M., García, J. C., & Sellés, J. G. (1998). Incidence of Alternaria spores in the atmosphere of Murcia (SE Spain). Seasonal, monthly and intradiurnal variations. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol , 8 , 304-308. Gioulekas, D., Damialis, A., Papakosta, D., Spieksma, F., Giouleka, P., & Patakas, D. (2004). Allergenic fungi spore records (15 years) and sensitization in patients with respiratory allergy in Thessaloniki-Greece. Journal of Investigational Allergology and Clinical Immunology , 14 , 225-231. Górzyńska, A., Grzech, A., Mierzwiak, P., Ussowicz, M., Biernat, M., Nawrot, U. (2023). Quantitative and qualitative Airborne mycobiota surveillance in high-risk hospital environment. Microorganisms, 11 , 1031. https://doi.org/10. 3390/ micro organisms11041031 Gravesen, S. (1979). Fungi as a cause of allergenic disease. Allergy, 34: 135-154. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1398-9995.1979.tb01562.x Grewling, Ł., Magyar, D., Chłopek, K., Grinn-Gofroń, A., Gwiazdowska, J., Siddiquee, A., ... & Bogawski, P. (2022). Bioaerosols on the atmospheric super highway: An example of long distance transport of Alternaria spores from the Pannonian Plain to Poland. Science of the Total Environment , 819 , 153148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153148 Grinn-Gofroń, A., & Strzelczak, A. (2008). Artificial neural network models of relationships between Alternaria spores and meteorological factors in Szczecin (Poland). International Journal of Biometeorology , 52 (8), 859-868. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-008-0182-3 Grinn-Gofroń, A., & Strzelczak, A. (2009). Hourly predictive artificial neural network and multivariate regression tree models of Alternaria and Cladosporium spore concentrations in Szczecin (Poland). International Journal of Biometeorology , 53 (6), 555-562. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-009-0243-2 Grinn-Gofroń, A., Çeter, T., Pinar, N. M., Bosiacka, B., Çeter, S., Keçeli, T., Myśliwy, M., Acar Şahin, A., Bogawski, P. (2020). Airborne fungal spore load and season timing in the Central and Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey explained by climate conditions and land use. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 295 , 108191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2020.108191 Grinn-Gofroń, A., Sadyś, M., Kaczmarek, J., Bednarz, A., Pawłowska, S., Jedryczka, M. (2016). Back-trajectory modelling and DNA-based species-specificdetection methods allow tracking of fungal spore transport in air masses. Science of the Total Environment 571 , 658–669. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.07.034 Haas, D., Ilieva, M., Fritz, T., Galler, H., Habib, J., Kriso, A., ... & Schalli, M. (2023). Background concentrations of airborne, culturable fungi and dust particles in urban, rural and mountain regions. Science of the Total Environment , 892 , 164700. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164700 Hameed, A. A., Khoder, M. I., Yuosra, S., Osman, A. M., & Ghanem, S. (2009). Diurnal distribution of airborne bacteria and fungi in the atmosphere of Helwan area, Egypt. Science of the Total Environment , 407 (24), 6217-6222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.08.028 Helander, M. L., & Pessi, A. M. (1991). Circadian periodicity of airborne pollen and spores; significance of sampling height. Aerobiologia , 7 (2), 129-135. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02270681 Hjelmroos, M. (1993). Relationship between airborne fungal spore presence and weather variables: Cladosporium and Alternaria . Grana , 32 (1), 40-47. https://doi.org/10.1080/00173139309436418 Hollins, P. D., Kettlewell, P. S., Atkinson, M. D., Stephenson, D. B., Corden, J. M., Millington, W. M., & Mullins, J. (2004). Relationships between airborne fungal spore concentration of Cladosporium and the summer climate at two sites in Britain. International Journal of Biometeorology , 48 (3), 137-141. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-003-0188-9 Jesús Aira, M., Rodríguez-Rajo, F. J., Fernández-González, M., Seijo, C., Elvira-Rendueles, B., Gutiérrez-Bustillo, M., ... & Muñoz-Rodríguez, A. F. (2012). Cladosporium airborne spore incidence in the environmental quality of the Iberian Peninsula. Grana , 51 (4), 293-304. https://doi.org/10.1080/00173134.2012.717636 Jones, A. M., & Harrison, R. M. (2004). The effects of meteorological factors on atmospheric bioaerosol concentrations—a review. Science of the total environment , 326 (1-3), 151-180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2003.11.021 Kallawicha, K., Chen, Y. C., Chao, H. J., Shen, W. C., Chen, B. Y., Chuang, Y. C., & Guo, Y. L. (2017). Ambient fungal spore concentration in a subtropical metropolis: Temporal distributions and meteorological determinants. Aerosol and air quality research , 17 (8), 2051-2063. https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2016.10.0450 Karabıcak, S., Bıyıklıoğlu, O., Farooq, Q., Oteros, J., Galán, C., & Çeter, T. (2025). Investigating the relationship between atmospheric concentrations of fungal spores and local meteorological variables in Kastamonu, Türkiye. Aerobiologia , 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-025-09852-2 Kasprzyk, I., Rzepowska, B., & Wasylów, M. (2004). Fungal spores in the atmosphere of Rzeszow [South-East Poland]. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine , 11 (2). Katial, R. K., Zhang, Y., Jones, R. H., & Dyer, P. D. (1997). Atmospheric mold spore counts in relation to meteorological parameters. International journal of biometeorology , 41 (1), 17-22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004840050048 Katsimpris, P., Nikolaidis, C., Deftereou, T.-E., Balatsouras, D., Printza, A., Iliou, T., Alexiadis, T., Chatzisouleiman, I., Samara, M., Constantinidis, J., Lambropoulou, M., & Katotomichelakis, M. (2022). Three-year pollen and fungi calendar in a Mediterranean region of the Northeast Greece. Allergologia et Immunopathologia, 50(2), 65–74. https://doi.org/10.15586/aei.v50i2.491 Kilic, M., Altunoglu, M. K., Akdogan, G. E., Akpınar, S., Taskın, E., & Erkal, A. H. (2020). Airborne fungal spore relationships with meteorological parameters and skin prick test results in Elazig, Turkey. Journal of environmental health science and engineering , 18 (2), 1271-1280. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40201-020-00545-1 Komnos, Ioannis D., Michali, Maria C., Ziavra, Nafsika V., Katotomichelakis, Michael A., & Kastanioudakis, Ioannis G. (2022). A study of airborne Pollen grains and fungal Spores in the region of Epirus (northwestern Greece). Cureus , 14 (6). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.26335 Levetin, E. (2016). Aerobiology of agricultural pathogens. Manual of environmental microbiology , 3-2. https://doi.org/10.1128/9781555818821.ch3.2.8 Li, D. W., & Kendrick, B. (1994). Functional relationships between airborne fungal spores and enviromental factors in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, as detected by Canonical correspondence analysis. Grana , 33 (3), 166-176. https://doi.org/10.1080/00173139409428995 Li, D. W., & Kendrick, B. (1995). A year-round study on functional relationships of airborne fungi with meteorological factors. International Journal of Biometeorology , 39 (2), 74-80. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01212584 Liu, H. F., Liao, J., Chen, X. Y., Liu, Q. K., Yu, Z. H., & Deng, J. X. (2019). A novel species and a new record of Alternaria isolated from two Solanaceae plants in China. Mycological Progress , 18 (8), 1005-1012. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11557-019-01504-3 Mansuroğlu, S., & Dağ, V. (2016). Bingöl İlinin peyzaj potansiyelinin kırsal turizm olanakları (SWOT analizi yöntemi kullanılarak) açısından değerlendirilmesi. Mediterranean Agricultural Sciences , 29 (1), 9-16. Nilsson, S., & Persson, S. (1981). Tree pollen spectra in the Stockholm region (Sweden). 1973–1980. Grana, 20 , 179-182. https://doi.org/10.1080/00173138109427661 Nussbaum, M. C. (1991). The literary imagination in public life. New Literary History , 22 (4), 877-910. https://doi.org/10.2307/469070 Ogórek, R., Lejman, A., Pusz, W., Miłuch, A., & Miodyńska, P. (2012). Characteristics and taxonomy of Cladosporium fungi. Mikologia lekarska , 19 (2), 80-85. Oliveira, M., Ribeiro, H., & Abreu, I. (2005). Annual variation of fungal spores in atmosphere of Porto: 2003 . Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine. 12 , 309–315. Oliveira, M., Ribeiro, H., Delgado, J. L., & Abreu, I. (2009). The effects of meteorological factors on airborne fungal spore concentration in two areas differing in urbanisation level. International journal of biometeorology , 53 (1), 61-73. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-008-0191-2 Olsen, Y., Skjøth, C. A., Hertel, O., Rasmussen, K., Sigsgaard, T., & Gosewinkel, U. (2020). Airborne Cladosporium and Alternaria spore concentrations through 26 years in Copenhagen, Denmark. Aerobiologia , 36 (2), 141-157. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-019-09618-7 Özbay, N., Ergun, M., Osmanoğlu, A., & Çakır, A. (2015). Bingöl’de bitkisel üretimin durumu, sorunları ve çözüm önerileri. Türk Doğa ve Fen Dergisi, 4(1), 54-58. Pakpour, S., Li, D. W., & Klironomos, J. (2015). Relationships of fungal spore concentrations in the air and meteorological factors. Fungal Ecology , 13 , 130-134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funeco.2014.09.008 Reis, A., & Boiteux, L. S. (2010). Alternaria species infecting Brassicaceae in the Brazilian neotropics: geographical distribution, host range and specificity. Journal of plant Pathology , 661-668. Reyes, E. S., de la Cruz, D. R., & Sánchez, J. S. (2016). First fungal spore calendar of the middle-west of the Iberian Peninsula. Aerobiologia , 32 (3), 529-539. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-016-9430-x Ricci, S., Bruni, M., Meriggi, A., & Corsico, R. (1995). Aerobiological monitoring of Alternaria fungal spores: a comparison between surveys in 1992 and 1993 and local meteorological conditions. Aerobiologia , 11 (3), 195-199. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02450039 Rodríguez-Rajo, F. J., & Iglesias, I. (2005). Variation assessment of airborne Alternaria and Cladosporium spores at different bioclimatical conditions. Mycological research , 109 (4), 497-507. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0953756204001777 Sabariego, S., Diaz De la Guardia, C., & Alba, F. (2000). The effect of meteorological factors on the daily variation of airborne fungal spores in Granada (southern Spain). International journal of biometeorology , 44 (1), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004840050131 Sadyś, M., Kennedy, R., Skjøth, C. A. (2015). An analysis of local wind and air mass directions and their impact on Cladosporium distribution using HYSPLIT and circular statistics. Fungal Ecology , 18 , 56-66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funeco.2015.09.006 Şen, B., & Asan, A. (2001). Airborne fungi in vegetable growing areas of Edirne, Turkey. Aerobiologia , 17 (1), 69-75. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007604417192 Sevindik, M., & Tosunoglu, A. (2025). Temporal variability of aeromycoflora and their relationship with meteorological factors in Şanlıurfa (Türkiye). Grana , 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/00173134.2025.2565187 Sindt, C., Besancenot, J. P., & Thibaudon, M. (2016). Airborne Cladosporium fungal spores and climate change in France. Aerobiologia , 32 (1), 53-68. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-016-9422-x Skjøth, C. A., Damialis, A., Belmonte, J., De Linares, C., Fernández-Rodríguez, S., Grinn-Gofroń, A., ... & Werner, M. (2016). Alternaria spores in the air across Europe: abundance, seasonality and relationships with climate, meteorology and local environment. Aerobiologia , 32 (1), 3-22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-016-9426-6 Skjøth, C. A., Sommer, J., Frederiksen, L., & Gosewinkel Karlson, U. (2012). Crop harvest in Denmark and Central Europe contributes to the local load of airborne Alternaria spore concentrations in Copenhagen. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics , 12 (22), 11107-11123. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-12-11107-2012 Solomon, W. R. (1978). Aerobiology and inhalant allergens. 1. Pollens and fungi. In E. Middleton, C. E. Reed, & E. F. Ellis (Eds.) Allergy: Principles and practice (pp. 312– 372). St. Louis: Mosby. Srivastava, A. K., & Wadhvvani, K. (1992). Dispersion and allergenic manifestations of Alternaria airspora. Grana , 31 (1), 61-66. https://doi.org/10.1080/00173139209427827 Stach, A. (1997). Dobowe wahania ste˛zenia pyłku wybranych taksonow alergogennych w powietrzu nad Poznaniem 1996 roku. In: I Ogo´lnopolska Konferencja Naukowa: Biologia kwitnienia, nektarowania i zapylania roslin, Lublin 13–14 listopada 1997, Lubelskie Towarzystwo Naukowe, pp. 197–203. Stein, A.F., Draxler, R.R., Rolph, G.D., Stunder, B.J.B., Cohen, M.D., Ngan, F. (2015). NOAA’S HYSPLIT atmospheric transport and dispersion modeling system. Bulletin of American Meteorological Society, 96 (12), 2059–2078. https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-14-00110.1 Stennett, P. J., & Beggs, P. J. (2004). Alternaria spores in the atmosphere of Sydney, Australia, and relationships with meteorological factors. International Journal of Biometeorology , 49 (2), 98-105. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-004-0217-3 Takahashi, T. (1997). Airborne fungal colony-forming units in outdoor and indoor environments in Yokohama, Japan. Mycopathol, 139 :23-33. Thibaudon, M., & Lachasse, C. (2006). Alternaria , Cladosporium : dispersion atmosphérique, rythmes nycthéméral et saisonnier. Revue française d'allergologie et d'immunologie clinique , 46 (3), 188-196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.allerg.2006.01.025 Tosunoglu, A., & Bicakci, A. (2015). Seasonal and intradiurnal variation of airborne pollen concentrations in Bodrum, SW Turkey. Environmental monitoring and Assessment , 187 (4), 167. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4384-y Troutt, C., & Levetin, E. J. I. J. (2001). Correlation of spring spore concentrations and meteorological conditions in Tulsa, Oklahoma. International Journal of Biometeorology , 45 (2), 64-74. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004840100087 Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {\"props\":{\"pageProps\":{\"initialData\":{\"identity\":\"rs-8041888\",\"acceptedTermsAndConditions\":true,\"allowDirectSubmit\":true,\"archivedVersions\":[],\"articleType\":\"Research Article\",\"associatedPublications\":[],\"authors\":[{\"id\":546618930,\"identity\":\"148ee0bc-3d21-47ca-8430-fb5410e4aa72\",\"order_by\":0,\"name\":\"Can TURKOGLU\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Bursa Uludağ University\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Can\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"TURKOGLU\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":546618933,\"identity\":\"8ea885fd-2c02-4286-a293-93262271df19\",\"order_by\":1,\"name\":\"Omer SOLAK-AMET\",\"email\":\"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABBklEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBADGQYeBjYQQw5EHHhAhBYeqBYDY7CWBFK0JDaAuPi08IsdPvaB4Y8ND3/P4WePblT8SZ8fdvgh0BY7Od0G7FokZ6clz2BsS+ORONtmbpxzxiB34+00A6CWZGOzA9i1GNzOMWZgbDjMw3CewUw6tw2oZXYCSMuBxG04teR/ZmD4c5hH/jz7N+ncfwbphrPTPxDQksPMwMB2mMfgbA/QlgaDBHnpHPy2AP1izJAI9IvhmTNl0jnHjA03SOcUHEgwwO0Xfunkxwwf/tjIyZ1J3yadUyMnLz87ffOHDxV2cri0gEECilPBKg3wKMcA8g2kqB4Fo2AUjIKRAABWIFxd897eOwAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Bursa Uludağ University\",\"correspondingAuthor\":true,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Omer\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"SOLAK-AMET\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":546618937,\"identity\":\"cd9f4ce4-4d4e-47ed-845f-6088e6082e2e\",\"order_by\":2,\"name\":\"Adem BICAKCI\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Bursa Uludağ University\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Adem\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"BICAKCI\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":546618938,\"identity\":\"1c2bc9e9-09ac-4837-81f4-0a17a105cb18\",\"order_by\":3,\"name\":\"Aycan TOSUNOGLU\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Bursa Uludağ University\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Aycan\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"TOSUNOGLU\",\"suffix\":\"\"}],\"badges\":[],\"createdAt\":\"2025-11-05 21:38:20\",\"currentVersionCode\":1,\"declarations\":\"\",\"doi\":\"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8041888/v1\",\"doiUrl\":\"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8041888/v1\",\"draftVersion\":[],\"editorialEvents\":[],\"editorialNote\":\"\",\"failedWorkflow\":false,\"files\":[{\"id\":98624669,\"identity\":\"c01e8f95-8193-4e42-bb57-561e80f558dd\",\"added_by\":\"auto\",\"created_at\":\"2025-12-19 17:08:37\",\"extension\":\"png\",\"order_by\":1,\"title\":\"Figure 1\",\"display\":\"\",\"copyAsset\":false,\"role\":\"figure\",\"size\":464663,\"visible\":true,\"origin\":\"\",\"legend\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eSee image above for figure legend.\\u003c/p\\u003e\",\"description\":\"\",\"filename\":\"1.png\",\"url\":\"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8041888/v1/e196601a1178c1c71c9ff9d5.png\"},{\"id\":98525139,\"identity\":\"2665b6a4-8140-4f78-9b52-1d7adbf2e594\",\"added_by\":\"auto\",\"created_at\":\"2025-12-18 14:29:44\",\"extension\":\"png\",\"order_by\":2,\"title\":\"Figure 2\",\"display\":\"\",\"copyAsset\":false,\"role\":\"figure\",\"size\":54005,\"visible\":true,\"origin\":\"\",\"legend\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eSee image above for figure legend.\\u003c/p\\u003e\",\"description\":\"\",\"filename\":\"2.png\",\"url\":\"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8041888/v1/57229d29827d4004f560b671.png\"},{\"id\":98525134,\"identity\":\"18097c51-5a1f-488e-b350-87b6682659a5\",\"added_by\":\"auto\",\"created_at\":\"2025-12-18 14:29:44\",\"extension\":\"png\",\"order_by\":3,\"title\":\"Figure 3\",\"display\":\"\",\"copyAsset\":false,\"role\":\"figure\",\"size\":249097,\"visible\":true,\"origin\":\"\",\"legend\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eSee image above for figure legend.\\u003c/p\\u003e\",\"description\":\"\",\"filename\":\"3.png\",\"url\":\"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8041888/v1/7a169eff10e8997e4d6b4abe.png\"},{\"id\":98525135,\"identity\":\"e79ab432-261f-4479-bbc3-81aa973f450d\",\"added_by\":\"auto\",\"created_at\":\"2025-12-18 14:29:44\",\"extension\":\"png\",\"order_by\":4,\"title\":\"Figure 4\",\"display\":\"\",\"copyAsset\":false,\"role\":\"figure\",\"size\":752593,\"visible\":true,\"origin\":\"\",\"legend\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eSee image above for figure legend.\\u003c/p\\u003e\",\"description\":\"\",\"filename\":\"4.png\",\"url\":\"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8041888/v1/0d67c3498caa826f5178ada8.png\"},{\"id\":98625053,\"identity\":\"ac5ddf09-2b4c-4fef-8fd9-2e59f61573cb\",\"added_by\":\"auto\",\"created_at\":\"2025-12-19 17:08:54\",\"extension\":\"png\",\"order_by\":5,\"title\":\"Figure 5\",\"display\":\"\",\"copyAsset\":false,\"role\":\"figure\",\"size\":41897,\"visible\":true,\"origin\":\"\",\"legend\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eSee image above for figure legend.\\u003c/p\\u003e\",\"description\":\"\",\"filename\":\"5.png\",\"url\":\"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8041888/v1/90a062a517bc3c52d25c0f13.png\"},{\"id\":98525138,\"identity\":\"9719a225-664a-4023-9399-ed296ec4a78e\",\"added_by\":\"auto\",\"created_at\":\"2025-12-18 14:29:44\",\"extension\":\"png\",\"order_by\":6,\"title\":\"Figure 6\",\"display\":\"\",\"copyAsset\":false,\"role\":\"figure\",\"size\":136124,\"visible\":true,\"origin\":\"\",\"legend\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eSee image above for figure legend.\\u003c/p\\u003e\",\"description\":\"\",\"filename\":\"6.png\",\"url\":\"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8041888/v1/4302f9b1525c21043eb3703d.png\"},{\"id\":101343375,\"identity\":\"a6d99092-8dea-45cd-88eb-82d8100e024e\",\"added_by\":\"auto\",\"created_at\":\"2026-01-28 16:42:08\",\"extension\":\"pdf\",\"order_by\":0,\"title\":\"\",\"display\":\"\",\"copyAsset\":false,\"role\":\"manuscript-pdf\",\"size\":2176802,\"visible\":true,\"origin\":\"\",\"legend\":\"\",\"description\":\"\",\"filename\":\"manuscript.pdf\",\"url\":\"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8041888/v1/59d3434f-5f5f-469d-a74b-d5d561852fba.pdf\"}],\"financialInterests\":\"No competing interests reported.\",\"formattedTitle\":\"Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Alternaria and Cladosporium Spores in the Bowl-Shaped Bingöl Basin; with Particular Emphasis on the Prevailing Winds of the Mountainous Anatolian Plateau (Eastern Turkey)\",\"fulltext\":[{\"header\":\"1. Introduction\",\"content\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eFungal spores constitute a significant portion of bioaerosols in the atmosphere (Haas et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR37\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2023\\u003c/span\\u003e). Although at present year-round, their atmospheric concentrations vary seasonally, depending on sporulation periods, and even fluctuate throughout the day (Oliveira et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR60\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2009\\u003c/span\\u003e). These variations are influenced by geographical location, meteorological factors, human activities, and the regional vegetation composition (Adhikari et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR1\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2016\\u003c/span\\u003e; Anees-Hill et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR7\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2022\\u003c/span\\u003e). Spores of the genera \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e Link and \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e N\\u0026eacute;es are particularly important in aeromycological studies and are known to cause allergic and respiratory disorders in humans (G\\u0026oacute;rzyńska et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR30\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2023\\u003c/span\\u003e). \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e species are primarily identified as the main agents of respiratory disorders such as asthma and rhinitis, while \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e is among the allergens that cause allergic symptoms in the nose and bronchi (D'Amato et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR16\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e1997\\u003c/span\\u003e; Bouziane et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR12\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2005\\u003c/span\\u003e; Filali et al., 2015). Furthermore, spores of \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e also cause significant diseases and economic losses in agricultural products (Og\\u0026oacute;rek et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR58\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2012\\u003c/span\\u003e; Skj\\u0026oslash;th et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR73\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2016\\u003c/span\\u003e). Recent studies have shown that the sporulation periods of fungal spores like \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e, which impact both human health and agriculture, have lengthened due to climate change and shifting meteorological patterns, resulting in increased exposure (Anees-Hill et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR7\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2022\\u003c/span\\u003e). Therefore, ongoing research is crucial to monitor fungal spore concentrations globally in the atmosphere.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eInvestigations into the temporal and spatial distribution of airborne fungi have been extensively conducted in various regions worldwide (Gioulekas et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR29\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2004\\u003c/span\\u003e; Kasprzyk et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR46\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2004\\u003c/span\\u003e; Aira et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR5\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2012\\u003c/span\\u003e; Reyes et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR65\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2016\\u003c/span\\u003e; Bednarz and Pawłowska, 2016; Akg\\u0026uuml;l et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR6\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2016\\u003c/span\\u003e; Kallawicha et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR44\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2017\\u003c/span\\u003e; Fang et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR21\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2019\\u003c/span\\u003e; Liu et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR54\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2019\\u003c/span\\u003e; Grinn-Gofroń et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR35\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2020\\u003c/span\\u003e., Sevindik and Tosunoglu, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR71\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2025\\u003c/span\\u003e). Once dispersed into the atmosphere, fungal spores can remain suspended in the air for periods ranging from a few hours to several days. It has been reported that the concentration of \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores in the air shows a strong positive correlation with temperature, with low concentrations generally observed in coastal areas, while higher concentrations are recorded in continental centers and inland areas (Sindt et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR72\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2016\\u003c/span\\u003e). Similarly, it has been demonstrated that the concentration of \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores in the air shows a strong positive correlation with both humidity and temperature, and that concentrations are generally higher in temperate and warm climates (Reis and Boiteux, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR64\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2010\\u003c/span\\u003e). Therefore, the physical structure and location of the region studied in atmospheric fungal spore research, along with meteorological conditions, are crucial factors for interpreting the results.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eAlthough numerous aeromycological studies have been conducted across many regions of Europe, significant data gaps remain, particularly in certain areas (Oliveira et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR60\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2009\\u003c/span\\u003e). Understanding the diversity and abundance of airborne fungal spores, along with their seasonal, daily, and intra-diurnal variations influenced by meteorological conditions, facilitates the development of predictive models for atmospheric spore concentrations (Grinn-Gofroń and Strzelczak, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR33\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2008\\u003c/span\\u003e, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR34\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2009\\u003c/span\\u003e). The identification of bioaerosols that are both economically and health-relevant, such as \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e species, and their regional investigation using atmospheric models like the Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model is a valuable approach (Sadyś et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR69\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2015\\u003c/span\\u003e). Compared to pollen, atmospheric research on fungal spores is relatively limited. Therefore, more detailed and long-term studies are needed in regions where atmospheric fungal spore concentrations remain undetermined. Aeromycological main data are still insufficient, especially in the eastern regions of Turkey.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eThe objectives of the research are delineated as follows: (1) to understand the distribution of \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores within the atmospheric conditions of Bing\\u0026ouml;l (E-Turkey) over a two-year timeframe, (2) to calculate the spore season severity and timing, (3) to monitor intra-diurnal patterns of \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores, (4) to determine the geographical origin of rises in \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spore concentrations recorded in Bing\\u0026ouml;l (E-Turkey) for studied years.\\u003c/p\\u003e\"},{\"header\":\"2. Material and Methods\",\"content\":\"\\u003cdiv id=\\\"Sec3\\\" class=\\\"Section2\\\"\\u003e \\u003ch2\\u003e2.1. Study Area\\u003c/h2\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eBing\\u0026ouml;l is a city located in the upper reaches of the Euphrates River in Eastern Anatolia (41\\u0026deg;20'-39\\u0026deg;54' N, 38\\u0026deg;27'-40\\u0026deg;27' E), with an elevation of 1,151 meters (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig1\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e1\\u003c/span\\u003e). Characterised by its rugged terrain, the city is surrounded by mountains with elevations of nearly 3,000 meters, giving it a bowl-shaped appearance. The plain, situated centrally within the city, is encircled by these mountains (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig1\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e1\\u003c/span\\u003e). The pressure differential between the mountains and the plains generates airflow from the mountains toward the plains, resulting in prevailing winds that blow from the N-NNE throughout the province. While drought and heat dominate the summer months, abundant rainfall occurs in spring and autumn. Although the harsh continental climate typical of Eastern Anatolia is somewhat alleviated in the Upper Euphrates area, it remains milder compared to the surrounding regions. The average annual temperature is 12.2\\u0026deg;C, and the total annual precipitation is 947.6 mm, according to the Turkish State Meteorological Service (mean values for the period 1961\\u0026ndash;2023).\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e \\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eBing\\u0026ouml;l Province, located within the basins of the Aras and Euphrates rivers, contains the largest forested area in Eastern Anatolia. The most prevalent tree and shrub species in these forested regions up to an elevation of 1,200 meters are oaks. Other naturally occurring tree species include: \\u003cem\\u003eBetula verrucosa\\u003c/em\\u003e Ehrh., \\u003cem\\u003eCrataegus monogyna\\u003c/em\\u003e Jacq., \\u003cem\\u003eElaeagnus angustifolia\\u003c/em\\u003e L., \\u003cem\\u003eFraxinus excelsior\\u003c/em\\u003e L., \\u003cem\\u003eJuglans regia\\u003c/em\\u003e L., \\u003cem\\u003ePopulus alba\\u003c/em\\u003e L., \\u003cem\\u003ePopulus nigra\\u003c/em\\u003e L., \\u003cem\\u003ePyrus salicifolia\\u003c/em\\u003e Pall., \\u003cem\\u003eSalix alba\\u003c/em\\u003e L., \\u003cem\\u003eUlmus glabra\\u003c/em\\u003e Huds., \\u003cem\\u003eAcer platanoides\\u003c/em\\u003e L., \\u003cem\\u003eAlnus glutinosa\\u003c/em\\u003e L., \\u003cem\\u003eCeltis australis\\u003c/em\\u003e L., \\u003cem\\u003eCrataegus orientalis\\u003c/em\\u003e Paal. Ex. M. Bieb, \\u003cem\\u003ePopulus tremula\\u003c/em\\u003e L., \\u003cem\\u003eSorbus aucuparia\\u003c/em\\u003e L., and \\u003cem\\u003eSorbus torminalis\\u003c/em\\u003e L. The shrub species include \\u003cem\\u003eCornus alba\\u003c/em\\u003e L., \\u003cem\\u003eCotoneaster horizontalis\\u003c/em\\u003e Decne., \\u003cem\\u003eJuniperus horizontalis\\u003c/em\\u003e L., \\u003cem\\u003eRosa canina\\u003c/em\\u003e L., and \\u003cem\\u003eTamarix tetrandra\\u003c/em\\u003e Poll. The forests of Bing\\u0026ouml;l are generally characterised as sparse, with the flora predominantly consisting of shrubby areas. Steps are observed at higher altitudes. Consequently, anthropogenic steppes have become the dominant vegetation in these regions (\\u0026Ouml;zbay et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR62\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2015\\u003c/span\\u003e; Ahmet et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR2\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2016\\u003c/span\\u003e; Mansuroğlu \\u0026amp; Dağ, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR55\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2016\\u003c/span\\u003e). Wheat, barley, clover, paddy, chickpeas, beans, potatoes, vetch, sainfoin, and maize are among the most widely cultivated field crops in Bing\\u0026ouml;l (\\u0026Ouml;zbay et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR62\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2015\\u003c/span\\u003e).\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv id=\\\"Sec4\\\" class=\\\"Section2\\\"\\u003e \\u003ch2\\u003e2.2. Aeromycological study\\u003c/h2\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eIn a study conducted in Bing\\u0026ouml;l Province, atmospheric sampling was performed during 2018\\u0026ndash;2019 using a Hirst-type particle sampler (Lanzoni VPPS 2000). The device operated continuously and was calibrated to aspirate 10 L/min air in every sampling week, for two consecutive years (from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2019). Melinex\\u0026reg; tape, which was first placed by applying silicone oil, was removed from the sampling drum together with the adherent atmospheric particles and cut into daily fragments. Atmospheric sampling and analyses were carried out as described by the Spanish Aerobiological Network (REA) (Gal\\u0026aacute;n et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR25\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2007\\u003c/span\\u003e, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR26\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2014\\u003c/span\\u003e), with modifications that included dividing the slides transversely into 24 intervals instead of 12 and detecting diurnal variations. Spore concentrations were expressed as the number of pollen grains per 1 m\\u0026sup3; of air, according to the technical specification CEN/TS 16868 (European Committee for Standardization, 2015). The Main Spore Season (MSS) has been defined by the method that calculates the start of this period as the date by which 5% of the total year spore record was registered, and the end with the 95% captured (Nilsson and Persson, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR56\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e1981\\u003c/span\\u003e).\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eWithin the scope of this study, hourly data were collected during the day. To categorise the data, the day was first divided into four distinct time periods, similar to methodologies commonly used in pollen research. These periods were defined as follows: night from 00:00 to 06:00, morning from 06:00 to 12:00, noon from 12:00 to 18:00, and evening from 18:00 to 00:00. Consequently, the concentration changes of both fungal spores throughout the day were graphed and analysed on an hourly basis (Tosunoglu and Bicakci, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR82\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2015\\u003c/span\\u003e).\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv id=\\\"Sec5\\\" class=\\\"Section2\\\"\\u003e \\u003ch2\\u003e2.3. HYSPLIT Back Trajectory Analysis and Meteorological Data\\u003c/h2\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eWe analysed unusual occurrences, such as the high concentrations of \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores observed at the beginning of the second year, which caused the MSS period to start three months earlier in the second year than in the first year. Therefore, it seemed highly unlikely that these spores originated from local sources. To identify their possible origin, back-trajectory analyses of air masses were conducted. The Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) modelling system (Air Resources Laboratory, 2025) was used to calculate backward trajectories (Stein et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR78\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2015\\u003c/span\\u003e). HYSPLIT trajectories were calculated 72 hours back in time, with 1-hour steps between each trajectory event. This approach has also been used in previous atmospheric fungal spore studies to identify potential source regions for spores (Fern\\u0026aacute;ndez-Rodr\\u0026iacute;guez et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR23\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2015\\u003c/span\\u003e; Sadyś et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR69\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2015\\u003c/span\\u003e; Grinn-Gofroń et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR36\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2016\\u003c/span\\u003e).\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eThe meteorological datasets were provided by the Turkish State Meteorological Service. Annual statistics on daily mean temperature, daily relative humidity, daily total precipitation, and daily mean wind speed were employed for the comparative analysis of meteorological data with airborne fungal spore concentrations of \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e for the studied years.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv id=\\\"Sec6\\\" class=\\\"Section2\\\"\\u003e \\u003ch2\\u003e2.4. Statistical Analysis\\u003c/h2\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eThe Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was applied to the weekly data for normality testing, and negative results were obtained (p\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026lt;\\u0026thinsp;0.05). Spearman\\u0026rsquo;s correlation analysis was performed to correlate the daily concentrations of \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores with concurrent data on meteorological parameters (mean daily relative humidity, mean daily temperature, mean daily wind speed, and daily total rainfall) using the same-day data. To compare the two sampling years in terms of spore concentrations and meteorological parameters, a non-parametric Mann\\u0026ndash;Whitney U test was performed with a 95% confidence interval. The statistical analyses were performed using the IBM SPSS software package version 22.0 (SPSS, Chicago, Illinois, USA).\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/div\\u003e\"},{\"header\":\"3. Results\",\"content\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eIn a two-year study conducted in Bing\\u0026ouml;l Province, a total of 15.614 spores belonging to \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e were counted in 2018. In the following year, a total of 9.651 spores were recorded. Of these, 12.290 spores in the first year and 7.641 spores in the second year were identified as \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e. The number of \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores counted in the first year was 3.324, whereas this number was 2.010 in the second year. Analysing the data, it is evident that more spores were counted in the first year, with a notable decline in the second year of the study. Both \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e showed a decrease in the total number of spores in the second year.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eVariation of the monthly concentration of \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores is illustrated in Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig2\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e2\\u003c/span\\u003e. Notably, the first peaks for both taxa occurred in the same month across both years. Both taxa began to exhibit an increase in concentration in April, culminating in their first peaks in May. In May 2018, the concentration of \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e reached 6.390 spores, marking the highest monthly value recorded throughout the study. In the following year, although the first peak occurred during the same period, the number of spores was 2.946, which was dramatically lower than in the first year. After the first peak, a decreasing trend was observed in both years, continuing until July in the first year and until June in the second year. In the second year, \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e concentration increased in July and August, reaching 719 spores in August. A small peak occurred in September of the first year, with a concentration of 449 spores, making it the second-highest concentration recorded after the first peak. In the second year, the second largest peak occurred in October, with a spore concentration of 1.752 spores, indicating a peak period with a higher concentration than the second peak in the first year. Therefore, although the first peaks occurred in the same month, specifically May of both years, the concentration ratios exhibited some differences in the subsequent period. When the fungal spore concentrations of \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e are analysed, it is seen that the first peak occurs in May for both years, just like \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e. If we look at the concentration difference between the two years, the first peak in May of the first year was 1.562 spores, while the concentration of the first peak in the second year was 968 spores. Following this initial peak, there was no subsequent large increase in \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e concentration in either year. Only in August of the second year, there was a small increase with 317 spores. The first peaks and the highest concentrations of both taxa were observed in May. According to the data obtained, \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e dominated the atmospheric concentrations of \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e in Bing\\u0026ouml;l Province throughout the study.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e \\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eThe threshold concentrations triggering allergic symptoms for \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores are reported as 100 spores/m\\u0026sup3; of air and 3,000 spores/m\\u0026sup3; of air, respectively (Gravesen, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR31\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e1979\\u003c/span\\u003e). In our study, it was determined that \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores exceeded allergy threshold values on a total of 6 days (11 May, 13\\u0026ndash;16 May and 17 June) in 2018, and on 2 days (6\\u0026ndash;7 May) in 2019, but \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores never exceeded allergy threshold values throughout the study (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig3\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e3\\u003c/span\\u003e).\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e \\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eWhen reviewing the dynamics of the Main Spore Season; the MSS periods for \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores (207\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;200 days), start (7 April \\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;12 April) and end dates (30 October \\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;28 October), peak days (7 May \\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;10 May), and peak concentrations (629\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;485 spores/day) were found to be consistent across the two years. However, the October peak recorded in the second year is noteworthy (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig3\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e3\\u003c/span\\u003e). The situation for \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores was recorded as being quite different from that for \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores; for \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e, the MSS began on 10 February in the first year, while in the second year it began almost three months later (5 May). MSS periods were recorded as 218 and 163 days, while MSS end dates were recorded as 15 September and 14 October. Despite this, peak days have been found to be compatible (13 May \\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;6 May) (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig3\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e3\\u003c/span\\u003e). On the other hand, the peak days for \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores have been very close to each other in both years, with the first and second weeks of May being particularly noteworthy in this regard (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig3\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e3\\u003c/span\\u003e). When regional winds during peak days were examined, the average wind speed in May of the first year was 0.66 km/h, while on the day \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores peaked, a wind speed of 1.0 km/h was recorded, and on the day \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores peaked, a wind speed of 0.8 km/h was recorded, both above averages. In the second year, the May average was 0.72 km/h. On the day when \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores peaked, the wind speed was 1.1 km/h, and on the day when \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores peaked, it was 0.9 km/h, both of which were above average. For both spore types, it was observed that N-NE winds prevailed on peak days in the first year, consistent with the monthly prevailing winds. In contrast, in the second year, E-SE winds prevailed on peak days, which was contrary to the monthly prevailing winds (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig3\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e3\\u003c/span\\u003e).\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eWe conducted 72-hour back-trajectory analyses for \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores, focusing on the peak days and periods when their hourly concentrations reached their highest levels (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig4\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e4\\u003c/span\\u003e). Here, we used the day and hour when the spores were at their highest concentration in both years (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig4\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e4\\u003c/span\\u003e-A, B, D, E), while also evaluating the autumn peak of \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores, which was more pronounced in the second year (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig4\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e4\\u003c/span\\u003e-C). In addition, an unusual situation that caught our attention was the higher-than-normal concentrations on 20 and 25 February in the second year, which caused \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores to start the MSS period three months earlier (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig3\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e3\\u003c/span\\u003e, \\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig4\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e4\\u003c/span\\u003e-F, G). The Bing\\u0026ouml;l province is notable for its bowl-shaped geographical structure, with an elevation of nearly 1100 m, and is surrounded by mountains that reach approximately 3000 m in height. Back-trajectory analyses for these dates revealed that local winds and winds originating from the Mesopotamia lowland were effective during the first year's peaks (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig4\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e4\\u003c/span\\u003e-A,D), while high winds originating from Russia, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Georgia, and Armenia at altitudes of 4000 m and above were effective during the second year's peaks of both spore concentrations (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig4\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e4\\u003c/span\\u003e-B,E). In the untimely February peaks of the \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e, winds originating from the south over the Mesopotamia lowland were again found to be influential (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig4\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e4\\u003c/span\\u003e-F,G).\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e \\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eWhen analyzing the average spore counts of \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e across four periods of the day over two years, several trends emerged. In the first year, \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spore counts were lowest at night and peaked at noon, followed by a decline in the evening hours. In the second year of the study, \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e concentrations increased at noon but decreased during other times of the day (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig5\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e5\\u003c/span\\u003e). Thus, in both years, \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e concentrations were highest at noon. When the intra-diurnal concentration of \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e fungal spores was analyzed, it was observed that the concentration was highest in the morning in both the first and the second year (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig5\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e5\\u003c/span\\u003e). Similar to \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e, the lowest concentrations were observed at night. After the morning, the concentration tended to decrease toward noon and then increase again toward evening. Hourly data between the two years showed that the concentrations were similar for both taxa; that is, the concentration of \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e in the atmosphere increased in the morning hours, while the concentration of \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e fungal spores tended to increase at noon. In the first year, the daily \\u003cem\\u003eloads of Cladosporium and Alternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e in the atmosphere were higher, while in the second year, they were lower.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e \\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eWhen the intra-diurnal variations of \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spore concentrations were evaluated, it was determined that \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spore concentrations in the atmosphere was more intense between 08:00\\u0026ndash;09:00 in the morning during the first year and between 09:00\\u0026ndash;10:00 in the morning during the second year, while \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spore concentration was more intense between 14:00\\u0026ndash;15:00 in the afternoon in the first year and between 09:00\\u0026ndash;10:00 in the morning in the second year (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig6\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e6\\u003c/span\\u003e). In the cumulative evaluation of the two years, it was determined that the intradiurnal concentrations of \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores were highest between 08:00\\u0026ndash;09:00, and \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores were highest between 14:00\\u0026ndash;15:00 (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig6\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e6\\u003c/span\\u003e).\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e \\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eIn the statistical analyses, the data were tested for conformity to a normal distribution and were found not to follow a normal distribution (\\u003cem\\u003ep\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026lt;\\u0026thinsp;0.05). Therefore, non-parametric tests were used for the statistical evaluation of the data set. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was applied to determine whether spore concentrations and meteorological data of taxa differed between years. For each variable, the hypothesis of \\\"no difference between years\\\" was tested. The test results showed that \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria, Cladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e, and relative mean humidity differed significantly between the two years (\\u003cem\\u003ep\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026lt;\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u0026thinsp;0,05), while no differences were found for the other parameters (\\u003cem\\u003ep\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026gt;\\u0026thinsp;0,05).\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eThe correlation between daily concentrations of \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores and meteorological data was examined using Spearman's test. In 2018, \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores exhibited a statistically significant (\\u003cem\\u003ep\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026lt;\\u0026thinsp;0.05) positive correlation with wind speed (coefficient correlation 0.133). In 2018, no significant correlation was observed between the spore concentrations of taxa and meteorological data. When Spearman's test was applied to the combined data from the two years, a significant (\\u003cem\\u003ep\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026lt;\\u0026thinsp;0.05) negative correlation was found between \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores and precipitation values (correlation coefficient \\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;0.088).\\u003c/p\\u003e\"},{\"header\":\"4. Discussion\",\"content\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eThe data obtained in our study of the atmosphere in Bing\\u0026ouml;l Province showed that annual total Alternaria spore concentrations in the atmosphere of Bing\\u0026ouml;l Province are lower than those of \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores. However, \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores in the atmosphere are considered to be more allergenic and the reason for this situation is that the biomass of \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores has a greater value than \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores (Takahashi, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR80\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e1997\\u003c/span\\u003e; Dixit et al, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR17\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2000\\u003c/span\\u003e; Şen and Asan, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR70\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2001\\u003c/span\\u003e) and for this reason, the allergy threshold value is lower than that for \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e (Gravesen, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR31\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e1979\\u003c/span\\u003e). The \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e genus constitutes the majority of fungal spores in the atmosphere worldwide. Like \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium, Alternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e species live as saprophytes or parasites on many plants, and these two fungal spore species are the most dominant aeroallergens (Nussbaum, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR57\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e1991\\u003c/span\\u003e). In our study, we evaluated the monthly spore concentrations in 2018 in conjunction with meteorological factors and compared them with those from 2019. It was predicted that the reason for the formation of different concentration peaks could be evaluated as the sporulation periods of different species and the meteorological factors affecting them, as suggested by Dugan et al. (\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR18\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2004\\u003c/span\\u003e). In January 2019, the average temperature was \\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1.03⁰С, indicating that the winter months were colder than those in 2018. The average temperature in April 2018 was 14.35⁰С \\u0026deg;C, while in April 2019, it was 9.33⁰С. Therefore, it can be concluded that spring in 2019 was colder and started later than in 2018. Correspondingly, the faster warming of the air in spring of 2018 was accompanied by a more rapid increase in fungal spore concentrations compared to 2019 (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig2\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e2\\u003c/span\\u003e). It is known that \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores are positively correlated with optimum temperature and solar intensity (Solomon, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR75\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e1978\\u003c/span\\u003e; Hjelmroos, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR40\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e1993\\u003c/span\\u003e; Angulo-Romero et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR8\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e1999\\u003c/span\\u003e; Corden and Millington, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR15\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2001\\u003c/span\\u003e; Giner et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR27\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2001\\u003c/span\\u003e; Troutt and Levetin, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR83\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2001\\u003c/span\\u003e; Stennett and Beggs, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR79\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2004\\u003c/span\\u003e). However, the statistical results in our study did not reveal a positive correlation between spores and temperature. In both years, \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores exhibited spring and autumn peaks, whereas \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores showed a clear spring peak. In September 2018, with an average temperature of 22.63 ⁰С, the autumn peak of \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores could be distinguished, albeit faintly (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig2\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e2\\u003c/span\\u003e). The average monthly humidity during this peak was 37.40%. In September 2019, the temperature was still above 27\\u0026deg;C, similar to July and August, and the humidity was the lowest of the year at 30.50%. Therefore, sporulation of fungi could only start in October, when the temperature reached 22.57% and humidity 34.51%, forming the autumn concentration peak of \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores. As a result, the fact that the winter of 2019 was harsher and the summer was hotter and drier was considered the reason why \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spore concentrations were lower in 2019 compared to 2018.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eVegetation serves as the primary substrate for fungi. Due to its geographical location, Bing\\u0026ouml;l Province is a basin surrounded by high mountains and should not be overlooked, as it contains the largest forested area in Eastern Anatolia. In winter, vegetation is not thought to significantly affect fungal spores in the atmosphere. This is because many plants are defoliated in winter, the existing leaves are often covered with snow, and air temperature usually has a significant effect on sporulation. \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e, which are parasitic or saprophytic on plants and their numbers increase with the emergence of plants, which explains why fungal spores are more abundant in spring when temperatures are optimum (Li and Kendrick, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR52\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e1994\\u003c/span\\u003e). The average temperature of the atmosphere of Bing\\u0026ouml;l province in July-August in 2018 and 2019 was around 27⁰С, and in our study, it was evaluated that the decrease in fungal spore concentration in summer was due to high temperature, high solar intensity and low humidity (Aira et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR5\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2012\\u003c/span\\u003e; Calder\\u0026oacute;n et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR14\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e1997\\u003c/span\\u003e). Fungal spores only develop below a certain temperature threshold, and therefore, it is known that spore concentration decreases at extremely high or low temperatures (Oliveira et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR59\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2005\\u003c/span\\u003e). It has been determined that the intensity of spores increases in late summer and autumn and reaches its lowest levels in winter months such as January and February, with \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e peaking in September (Oliveira et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR59\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2005\\u003c/span\\u003e). Two studies conducted in western and northeastern Greece found that \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores were the most frequently detected spores during the summer months (Katsimpris et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR48\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2022\\u003c/span\\u003e; Komnos et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR50\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2022\\u003c/span\\u003e). Similarly, a study in southwestern Iran reported that \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores were more prevalent than other fungal spores during the spring and autumn months (Fatahinia et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR22\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2018\\u003c/span\\u003e). Based on the results of studies conducted in this field and our own findings, the reasons for the peaks occurring in spring and autumn are becoming clearer.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eConversely, although changes in humidity and precipitation are less determinant of spore concentrations than temperature changes, it is known that fungi typically require moisture for growth and sporulation, and many spores are transported in the atmosphere (Pakpour et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR63\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2015\\u003c/span\\u003e). Due to the washing effect of heavy rainfall, spore concentrations in the atmosphere can be severely reduced. Previously, Katial et al. (\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR47\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e1997\\u003c/span\\u003e) in Denver (Colorado/USA), Hollins et al. (\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR41\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2004\\u003c/span\\u003e) in Britain, Oliveira et al. (\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR60\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2009\\u003c/span\\u003e) in Portugal, and Aira et al. (\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR4\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2008\\u003c/span\\u003e, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR5\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2012\\u003c/span\\u003e) in the Iberian Peninsula determined that the decrease in rainfall increased spore concentrations in the atmosphere. In our study, in parallel with these studies, it was determined that high rainfall and humidity had a negative effect on spore concentration in the atmosphere. Therefore, it is considered as a normal result that a significant (\\u003cem\\u003ep\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026lt;\\u0026thinsp;0.05) negative correlation (correlation coefficient \\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;0.088) was found between \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores and precipitation manual values in our study.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eIn this study, carried out in the atmosphere of Bing\\u0026ouml;l Province, \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores showed a statistically significant (\\u003cem\\u003ep\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026lt;\\u0026thinsp;0.05) positive correlation (correlation coefficient 0.133) with wind speed. However, although it is stated that wind speed has no effect on spore concentrations in the atmosphere, \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores are known to be easily dispersed by wind (Li and Kendrick, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR52\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e1994\\u003c/span\\u003e) and are thought to influence the diversity of fungal spores across different regions. Giner et al. (\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR27\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2001\\u003c/span\\u003e) concluded that spore concentration in the atmosphere has a positive relationship with wind speed in their study, while other studies have not found a relationship between spore concentration in the atmosphere and wind speed (Sabariego et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR68\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2000\\u003c/span\\u003e; Burch and Levetin, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR13\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2002\\u003c/span\\u003e). It is thought that the differences between studies on the effect of wind speed on fungal spore concentrations in the atmosphere may be due to variations in sampling areas and the presence of natural and artificial barriers, as well as long-distance transport in these areas. Setting aside all these meteorological parameters that are not statistically significant and evaluating the situation from an MSS perspective, if we assess \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores by considering the wind and geographical conditions of the study area; although these spores are most commonly found in the atmosphere in May, it can be said that MSS periods generally occur between April and October, with an average MSS period length of approximately 200 days (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig3\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e3\\u003c/span\\u003e). Reviewing other studies, for example, MSS periods were found to be similar in Salamanca (M-W Spain); however, it was reported that the maximum concentration of \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores occurred during the June-July period (Ant\\u0026oacute;n et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR9\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2019\\u003c/span\\u003e). From the Black Sea coast, MSS periods have been reported to begin earlier than in Europe but later than in Bing\\u0026ouml;l (Grinn-Gofroń et al. \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR35\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2020\\u003c/span\\u003e). In Elazığ Province, located immediately west of the study area, the peak periods for \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores and \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores were determined to be July and June, respectively (Kilic et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR49\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2020\\u003c/span\\u003e). However, the altitude between these two provinces is quite similar, and the fact that the peak for both spore concentrations in Bing\\u0026ouml;l occurred in May in both years is thought-provoking when comparing these two neighbouring regions. This situation has necessitated that we consider the possibility that spores may not be wholly locally sourced, especially in peak times.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eAs a result of these analyses, the region is particularly interesting when its geographical features are taken into account. This is due to the region's harsh climate on a plateau surrounded by high mountains. Consequently, it is nearly impossible to ignore local winds such as anabatic and katabatic winds in this area. These winds typically blow from the plateau toward the mountains during the day and from the mountains back to the plateau at night. It can be assumed that these local winds carry \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores originating from local sources, namely the region's forests, throughout the year. Calder\\u0026oacute;n et al. (\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR14\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e1997\\u003c/span\\u003e) attributed the different concentration trends observed in geographically distinct regions to variations in atmospheric parameters. They reported that high concentrations generally occur at specific times of the day when temperature and wind speed are sufficient to break the conidial chains. However, this situation naturally applies to locally originating fungal spores. Conversely, during the peak periods of both spores, southerly winds from the Mesopotamia plain and simoom winds, which move from low altitudes toward the mountainous region, likely transport high concentrations of \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig4\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e4\\u003c/span\\u003e). However, in the second year, peaks and strong winds from the Caspian Sea and northern countries, such as Russia, Kazakhstan, and Armenia, become prominent. Therefore, during the sporulation period in the second year, the humid boreas (northeast) wind, originating from very high altitudes, may have caused the low spore concentrations observed in the region in May. Taken together, the significant difference in total spore concentration between the first and second years, along with the back-trajectory analysis, indicates that the source of the spores is a critical factor. In this context, simoom winds coming from the south can be considered responsible for high spore concentrations, while boreas (northeast) winds likely contribute to low spore concentrations in the region.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eGiven that the southern part of the study area is home to the Mesopotamian plain formed by the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, and considering that the winds also blow across this region in both, the high concentrations of spores gain even greater significance. Since ancient times, wheat has been the main agricultural product in the Mesopotamian crescent. Croplands are identified as a potential primary source of \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores in previous studies (Olsen et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR61\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2020\\u003c/span\\u003e; Grinn-Gofroń et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR35\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2020\\u003c/span\\u003e), which also supports the possibility of long-distance transport to the region.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eBack-trajectory analysis is a method used to trace the previous movement of air masses carrying fungal spores, thereby identifying potential source areas. Fungal spores transported by wind can travel horizontally over several kilometers (Levetin, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR51\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2016\\u003c/span\\u003e). A study conducted in Europe, focusing on \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e fungal spores, demonstrated that spores could be transported up to 600 km from southern to northern Europe by wind (Grewling et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR32\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2022\\u003c/span\\u003e). A striking and unusual situation here is that in the second year, there was an increase in \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores, causing the MSS period to begin in February. To evaluate both the days with maximum concentrations in both years and the abnormal February peaks, back-trajectory analyses were performed (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig4\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e4\\u003c/span\\u003e). The unexpected peaks of \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores on February 20 and 25 of the second year revealed that the source of these spores was also in the southern regions (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig4\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e4\\u003c/span\\u003e). Therefore, it can be inferred that prevailing winds originating from the south in February are responsible for introducing exogenous spores into the atmosphere over the Bing\\u0026ouml;l region. Although some studies have used HYSPLIT back-trajectory analyses to determine whether fungal spores originate from local or external sources, such studies are limited in number (Sadyś et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR69\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2015\\u003c/span\\u003e; Grinn-Gofroń et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR36\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2016\\u003c/span\\u003e) and represent the first data for the region where this study was conducted.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eA series of studies on atmospheric fungal spores have shown that the highest concentrations are recorded in the afternoon or late evening, and the lowest concentrations are recorded at night or in the early morning (Ricci et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR66\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e1995\\u003c/span\\u003e; Rodriguez-Rajo and Iglesias, 2005; Thibaudon and Lachasse, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR81\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2006\\u003c/span\\u003e; Aira et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR4\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2008\\u003c/span\\u003e; Oliveira et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR60\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2009\\u003c/span\\u003e; Skj\\u0026oslash;th et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR74\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2012\\u003c/span\\u003e). The literature indicates that atmospheric fungal spore concentrations vary throughout the day (Hameed et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR38\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2009\\u003c/span\\u003e). In our study, the hours when \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores reached their highest levels in the atmosphere were determined to be between 09:00 and 10:00 a.m. in both years (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig6\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e6\\u003c/span\\u003e). When comparing the daily distribution of \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores with other studies, it was observed that some of the reported data were consistent with our findings, while others differed. For example, in a study conducted in Tetouan, Morocco, the time interval during which \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores were found in maximum quantities during the day was 12:00\\u0026ndash;14:00 (Bardei et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR10\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2017\\u003c/span\\u003e), in Poznan, Poland, between 20:00 and 22:00 (Stach, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR77\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e1997\\u003c/span\\u003e), in the United Kingdom, at 20:00 (Corden and Millington, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR15\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2001\\u003c/span\\u003e), and in Stockholm, Sweden, at 08:00 (Hjelmroos, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR40\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e1993\\u003c/span\\u003e), and in a study conducted in the city of Murcia, Spain, between 5:00 and 6:00 a.m. (Giner et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR28\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e1998\\u003c/span\\u003e). However, it is known that the genus \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e prefers hours with less intense sunlight for sporulation (Srivastava and Wadhwani, 1992). The increase in fungal spore concentration during the morning hours can be attributed to the rise in atmospheric temperature and wind speed (Jones and Harrison, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR43\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2004\\u003c/span\\u003e). Burch and Levetin (\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR13\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2002\\u003c/span\\u003e) noted that fungal spore concentrations in the atmosphere peak at 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. and explained this phenomenon as being due to an increase in wind speed. Similar to \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e concentrations also increased during the same hours of the day within the specified time range. However, \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e was found to be most abundant in the atmosphere between 14:00 and 15:00 (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig6\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e6\\u003c/span\\u003e). Likewise, studies conducted in Finland, Canada, and Morocco have reported increases in \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e concentrations during midday hours (Helander and Pessi, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR39\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e1991\\u003c/span\\u003e; Li and Kendrick, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR53\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e1995\\u003c/span\\u003e; Bardei et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR10\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2017\\u003c/span\\u003e). Therefore, it has been observed once again that the concentrations of both fungal spores in the atmosphere vary at different hourly intervals throughout the day. This variation is attributed, in part, to the changing meteorological parameters during the day, as stated by Calder\\u0026oacute;n et al. (\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR14\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e1997\\u003c/span\\u003e).\\u003c/p\\u003e\"},{\"header\":\"5. Conclusions\",\"content\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eFungal spores in the atmosphere are a significant contributor to seasonal allergic symptoms, such as allergic sensitivity and asthma, and they also cause substantial economic losses in agriculture. The fungal spores of \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e are particularly important in this context. Although numerous studies worldwide have monitored atmospheric fungal spores, scientific data remain limited and insufficient in some regions. This two-year study, conducted in Bing\\u0026ouml;l province-located in the upper reaches of the Euphrates River and characterised by a geographically unique and remarkable landscape-revealed that \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores are more dominant than \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores. Additionally, the highest concentrations of both fungal spores were identified during the day over this period. While \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e peaked in the morning hours, \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e concentrations increased in the afternoon. Another important finding was that the mean spore season (MSS) values for \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e differed between the two years. The study demonstrated that the atmospheric \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e load in the region was significantly influenced by external sources. The first HYSPLIT analysis conducted in the area revealed that winds from the south, particularly from this direction, transported substantial amounts of \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores to the region. In addition to the region\\u0026rsquo;s rich forest resources, it was observed that fungal spores carried by both southern and northern winds could be significant. The study also highlighted the importance of spore concentration peaks occurring in April, particularly in relation to human health and agricultural activities. Therefore, fungal spores can be transported by wind to a considerable extent and, in some cases, may lead to unexpected outcomes. Consequently, while further research is necessary, more detailed studies are essential to gain a better understanding of fungal spore transport and sources in geographically specific areas.\\u003c/p\\u003e\"},{\"header\":\"Declarations\",\"content\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eAll authors have read, understood, and have complied as applicable with the statement on \\u0026ldquo;Ethical responsibilities of Authors\\u0026rdquo; as found in the Instructions for Authors.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eAcknowledgments\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003ePart of this work is the first author\\u0026apos;s master\\u0026apos;s thesis. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Prof. Dr. Hasan Akg\\u0026uuml;l and the scholarship students who contributed through their involvement in fieldwork.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eFunding statement\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003eThe materials used in this research were funded from the KBAG-117Z252 project of Scientific and Technological Research Council of T\\u0026uuml;rkiye (T\\u0026Uuml;BİTAK).\\u003c/p\\u003e\"},{\"header\":\"References\",\"content\":\"\\u003col\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eAdhikari, P., Khatri-Chhetri, G. B., Shrestha, S. M., \\u0026amp; Marahatta, S. (2016). Study on Prevalence of mycoflora in wheat seeds. \\u003cem\\u003eTurkish Journal of Agriculture-Food Science and Technology\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e4\\u003c/em\\u003e(1), 31-35. https://doi.org/10.24925/turjaf.v4i1.31-35.509\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eAhmet, C. A. F., Irmak, M. A., \\u0026amp; Yılmaz, H. (2016). Bing\\u0026ouml;l ili yeşil alanlarında kullanılan odunsu bitkiler ve kullanım ama\\u0026ccedil;ları. \\u003cem\\u003eIğdır \\u0026Uuml;niversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstit\\u0026uuml;s\\u0026uuml; Dergisi\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e6\\u003c/em\\u003e(2), 103-110. \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eAir Resources Laboratory. HYSPLIT\\u0026mdash;Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory. Available from https://www.ready.noaa.gov/HYSPLIT_traj.php \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eAira, M. J., Rodr\\u0026iacute;guez-Rajo, F. J., \\u0026amp; Jato, V. (2008). 47 annual records of allergenic fungi spore: Predictive models from the NW Iberian Peninsula. \\u003cem\\u003eAnn Agric Environ Med\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e15\\u003c/em\\u003e(1), 91-98.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eAira, M. J., Rodr\\u0026iacute;guez-Rajo, F. J., Fern\\u0026aacute;ndez-Gonz\\u0026aacute;lez, M., Seijo, C., Elvira-Rendueles, B., Guti\\u0026eacute;rrez-Bustillo, M., ... \\u0026amp; Mu\\u0026ntilde;oz-Rodr\\u0026iacute;guez, A. F. (2012). \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e airborne spore incidence in the environmental quality of the Iberian Peninsula. \\u003cem\\u003eGrana\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e51\\u003c/em\\u003e(4), 293-304. https://doi.org/10.1080/00173134.2012.717636 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eAkg\\u0026uuml;l, H., Yılmazkaya, D., Akata, I., Tosunoğlu, A. \\u0026amp; Bı\\u0026ccedil;ak\\u0026ccedil;ı, A. (2016). Determination of airborne fungal spores of Gaziantep (SETurkey). \\u003cem\\u003eAerobiologia 32\\u003c/em\\u003e: 441\\u0026ndash;452. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-015-9417-z \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eAnees-Hill, S., Douglas, P., Pashley, C. H., Hansell, A., \\u0026amp; Marczylo, E. L. (2022). A systematic review of outdoor airborne fungal spore seasonality across Europe and the implications for health. \\u003cem\\u003eScience of the Total Environment\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e818\\u003c/em\\u003e, 151716. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151716 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eAngulo-Romero, J., Mediavilla-Molina, A., \\u0026amp; Dom\\u0026iacute;nguez-Vilches, E. (1999). Conidia of \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e in the atmosphere of the city of Cordoba, Spain in relation to meteorological parameters. \\u003cem\\u003eInternational Journal of Biometeorology\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e43\\u003c/em\\u003e(1), 45-49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004840050115 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eAnt\\u0026oacute;n, S. F., de la Cruz, D. R., S\\u0026aacute;nchez, J. S., \\u0026amp; S\\u0026aacute;nchez Reyes, E. (2019). Analysis of the airborne fungal spores present in the atmosphere of Salamanca (MW Spain): a preliminary survey. \\u003cem\\u003eAerobiologia\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e35\\u003c/em\\u003e(3), 447-462. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-019-09569-z \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eBardei, F., Bouziane, H., Trigo, M. D. M., Ajouray, N., El Haskouri, F., \\u0026amp; Kadiri, M. (2017). Atmospheric concentrations and intradiurnal pattern of \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e conidia in T\\u0026eacute;touan (NW of Morocco). \\u003cem\\u003eAerobiologia\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e33\\u003c/em\\u003e(2), 221-228. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-016-9465-z \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eBednarz, A., \\u0026amp; Pawlowska, S. (2016). A fungal spore calendar for the atmosphere of Szczecin, Poland. \\u003cem\\u003eActa agrobotanica\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e69\\u003c/em\\u003e(3).\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eBouziane, H., Latge, J. P., Fitting, C., Mecheri, S., Lelong, M., \\u0026amp; David, B. (2005). Comparison of the allergenic potency of spores and mycelium of \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e. \\u003cem\\u003eAllergologia et immunopathologia\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e33\\u003c/em\\u003e(3), 125-130. https://doi.org/10.1157/13075694\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eBurch, M., \\u0026amp; Levetin, E. (2002). Effects of meteorological conditions on spore plumes. \\u003cem\\u003eInternational journal of biometeorology\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e46\\u003c/em\\u003e(3), 107-117. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-002-0127-1 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eCalder\\u0026oacute;n, C., Lacey, J., McCartney, A., \\u0026amp; Rosas, I. (1997). Influence of urban climate upon distribution of airborne \\u003cem\\u003eDeuteromycete\\u003c/em\\u003e spore concentrations in Mexico City. \\u003cem\\u003eInternational Journal of Biometeorology\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e40\\u003c/em\\u003e(2), 71-80. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004840050021 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eCorden, J. M., \\u0026amp; Millington, W. M. (2001). The long-term trends and seasonal variation of the aeroallergen \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e in Derby, UK. \\u003cem\\u003eAerobiologia\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e17\\u003c/em\\u003e(2), 127-136. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010876917512 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eD\\u0026apos;amato, G., Chatzigeorgiou, G., Corsico, R., Gioulekas, D., J\\u0026auml;ger, L., J\\u0026auml;ger, S., ... \\u0026amp; Wuthrich, B. (1997). Evaluation of the prevalence of skin prick test positivity to \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e in patients with suspected respiratory allergy: a European multicenter study promoted by the Subcommittee on Aerobiology and Environmental Aspects of Inhalant Allergens of the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology. \\u003cem\\u003eAllergy\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e52\\u003c/em\\u003e(7), 711-716. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1398-9995.1997.tb01227.x \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eDixit, A., Lewis, W., Baty, J., Crozier, W., \\u0026amp; Wedner, J. (2000). Deuteromycete aerobiology and skin-reactivity patterns - A two year concurrent study in Corpus Christi, Texas, USA. \\u003cem\\u003eGrana\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e39\\u003c/em\\u003e(4), 209-218. https://doi.org/10.1080/00173130051084368 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eDugan, F. M., Schubert, K., \\u0026amp; Braun, U. (2004). Check-list of \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e names. \\u003cem\\u003eSchlechtendalia\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e11\\u003c/em\\u003e, 1-103.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eDugan, F. M., Schubert, K., \\u0026amp; Braun, U. (2004). Check-list of \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e names. \\u003cem\\u003eSchlechtendalia, 11\\u003c/em\\u003e, 1-103.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eEuropean Committee for Standardization. Technical Specification CEN/TS 16868: 2015. Ambient air. Sampling and analysis of airborne pollen grains and fungal spores for allergy networks. Volumetric Hirst method. Available from: http://shop.bsigroup.com/ProductDetail/?pid=000000000030314080 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eFang, Z., Zhang, J., Guo, W., \\u0026amp; Lou, X. (2019). Assemblages of culturable airborne fungi in a typical urban, tourism-driven center of southeast China. \\u003cem\\u003eAerosol and Air Quality Research\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e19\\u003c/em\\u003e(4), 820-831. https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2018.02.0042 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eFatahinia, M., Zarei-Mahmoudabadi, A., Shokri, H., \\u0026amp; Ghaymi, H. (2018). Monitoring of mycoflora in outdoor air of different localities of Ahvaz, Iran. \\u003cem\\u003eJournal de mycologie medicale\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e28\\u003c/em\\u003e(1), 87-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mycmed.2017.12.002\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eFern\\u0026aacute;ndez-Rodr\\u0026iacute;guez, S., Sadyś, M., Smith, M., Tormo-Molina, R., Skj\\u0026oslash;th, C. A., Maya-Manzano, J. M., ... \\u0026amp; Gonzalo-Garijo, \\u0026Aacute;. (2015). Potential sources of airborne \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spp. spores in South-west Spain. \\u003cem\\u003eScience of the Total Environment\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e533\\u003c/em\\u003e, 165-176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.06.031\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eFilali Ben Sidel, F., Bouziane, H., del Mar Trigo, M., El Haskouri, F., Bardei, F., Redouane, A., ... \\u0026amp; Kazzaz, M. (2015). Airborne fungal spores of \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e, meteorological parameters and predicting variables. \\u003cem\\u003eInternational Journal of Biometeorology\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e59\\u003c/em\\u003e(3), 339-346. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-014-0845-1 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eGal\\u0026aacute;n, C., Cari\\u0026ntilde;anos Gonz\\u0026aacute;lez, P., Alc\\u0026aacute;zar Teno, P., Dom\\u0026iacute;nguez Vilches, E. (2007). Spaniesh Aerobiology Network (REA): Management and Quality Manual. Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universited de Cordoba, Cordoba.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eGal\\u0026aacute;n, C., Smith, M., Thibaudon, M., Frenguelli, G., Oteros, J., Gehrig, R., Berger, U., Clot, B., Brandao, R., EAS QC Working Group (2014). Pollen monitoring: minimum requirements and reproducibility of analysis. \\u003cem\\u003eAerobiologia\\u003c/em\\u003e 30, 385\\u0026ndash;395. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-014-9335-5 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eGiner, M. M., Carri\\u0026oacute;n Garc\\u0026iacute;a, J., \\u0026amp; Navarro Camacho, C. (2001). Airborne \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores in SE Spain (1993-98). \\u003cem\\u003eGrana\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e40\\u003c/em\\u003e(3). https://doi.org/10.1080/00173130152625842 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eGiner, M. M., Garc\\u0026iacute;a, J. C., \\u0026amp; Sell\\u0026eacute;s, J. G. (1998). Incidence of Alternaria spores in the atmosphere of Murcia (SE Spain). Seasonal, monthly and intradiurnal variations. \\u003cem\\u003eJ Investig Allergol Clin Immunol\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e8\\u003c/em\\u003e, 304-308.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eGioulekas, D., Damialis, A., Papakosta, D., Spieksma, F., Giouleka, P., \\u0026amp; Patakas, D. (2004). Allergenic fungi spore records (15 years) and sensitization in patients with respiratory allergy in Thessaloniki-Greece. \\u003cem\\u003eJournal of Investigational Allergology and Clinical Immunology\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e14\\u003c/em\\u003e, 225-231.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eG\\u0026oacute;rzyńska, A., Grzech, A., Mierzwiak, P., Ussowicz, M., Biernat, M., Nawrot, U. (2023). Quantitative and qualitative Airborne mycobiota surveillance in high-risk hospital environment. \\u003cem\\u003eMicroorganisms, 11\\u003c/em\\u003e, 1031. https://doi.org/10. 3390/ micro organisms11041031 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eGravesen, S. (1979). Fungi as a cause of allergenic disease. \\u003cem\\u003eAllergy, \\u003c/em\\u003e34: 135-154. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1398-9995.1979.tb01562.x \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eGrewling, Ł., Magyar, D., Chłopek, K., Grinn-Gofroń, A., Gwiazdowska, J., Siddiquee, A., ... \\u0026amp; Bogawski, P. (2022). Bioaerosols on the atmospheric super highway: An example of long distance transport of \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores from the Pannonian Plain to Poland. \\u003cem\\u003eScience of the Total Environment\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e819\\u003c/em\\u003e, 153148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153148\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eGrinn-Gofroń, A., \\u0026amp; Strzelczak, A. (2008). Artificial neural network models of relationships between \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores and meteorological factors in Szczecin (Poland). \\u003cem\\u003eInternational Journal of Biometeorology\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e52\\u003c/em\\u003e(8), 859-868. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-008-0182-3 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eGrinn-Gofroń, A., \\u0026amp; Strzelczak, A. (2009). Hourly predictive artificial neural network and multivariate regression tree models of \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spore concentrations in Szczecin (Poland). \\u003cem\\u003eInternational Journal of Biometeorology\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e53\\u003c/em\\u003e(6), 555-562. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-009-0243-2 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eGrinn-Gofroń, A., \\u0026Ccedil;eter, T., Pinar, N. M., Bosiacka, B., \\u0026Ccedil;eter, S., Ke\\u0026ccedil;eli, T., Myśliwy, M., Acar Şahin, A., Bogawski, P. (2020). Airborne fungal spore load and season timing in the Central and Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey explained by climate conditions and land use. \\u003cem\\u003eAgricultural and Forest Meteorology, 295\\u003c/em\\u003e, 108191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2020.108191 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eGrinn-Gofroń, A., Sadyś, M., Kaczmarek, J., Bednarz, A., Pawłowska, S., Jedryczka, M. (2016). Back-trajectory modelling and DNA-based species-specificdetection methods allow tracking of fungal spore transport in air masses. \\u003cem\\u003eScience of the Total Environment\\u003c/em\\u003e \\u003cem\\u003e571\\u003c/em\\u003e, 658\\u0026ndash;669. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.07.034 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eHaas, D., Ilieva, M., Fritz, T., Galler, H., Habib, J., Kriso, A., ... \\u0026amp; Schalli, M. (2023). Background concentrations of airborne, culturable fungi and dust particles in urban, rural and mountain regions. \\u003cem\\u003eScience of the Total Environment\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e892\\u003c/em\\u003e, 164700. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164700\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eHameed, A. A., Khoder, M. I., Yuosra, S., Osman, A. M., \\u0026amp; Ghanem, S. (2009). Diurnal distribution of airborne bacteria and fungi in the atmosphere of Helwan area, Egypt. \\u003cem\\u003eScience of the Total Environment\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e407\\u003c/em\\u003e(24), 6217-6222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.08.028\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eHelander, M. L., \\u0026amp; Pessi, A. M. (1991). Circadian periodicity of airborne pollen and spores; significance of sampling height. \\u003cem\\u003eAerobiologia\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e7\\u003c/em\\u003e(2), 129-135. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02270681 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eHjelmroos, M. (1993). Relationship between airborne fungal spore presence and weather variables: \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e. \\u003cem\\u003eGrana\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e32\\u003c/em\\u003e(1), 40-47. https://doi.org/10.1080/00173139309436418 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eHollins, P. D., Kettlewell, P. S., Atkinson, M. D., Stephenson, D. B., Corden, J. M., Millington, W. M., \\u0026amp; Mullins, J. (2004). Relationships between airborne fungal spore concentration of \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e and the summer climate at two sites in Britain. \\u003cem\\u003eInternational Journal of Biometeorology\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e48\\u003c/em\\u003e(3), 137-141. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-003-0188-9 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eJes\\u0026uacute;s Aira, M., Rodr\\u0026iacute;guez-Rajo, F. J., Fern\\u0026aacute;ndez-Gonz\\u0026aacute;lez, M., Seijo, C., Elvira-Rendueles, B., Guti\\u0026eacute;rrez-Bustillo, M., ... \\u0026amp; Mu\\u0026ntilde;oz-Rodr\\u0026iacute;guez, A. F. (2012). Cladosporium airborne spore incidence in the environmental quality of the Iberian Peninsula. \\u003cem\\u003eGrana\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e51\\u003c/em\\u003e(4), 293-304. https://doi.org/10.1080/00173134.2012.717636 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eJones, A. M., \\u0026amp; Harrison, R. M. (2004). The effects of meteorological factors on atmospheric bioaerosol concentrations\\u0026mdash;a review. \\u003cem\\u003eScience of the total environment\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e326\\u003c/em\\u003e(1-3), 151-180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2003.11.021\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eKallawicha, K., Chen, Y. C., Chao, H. J., Shen, W. C., Chen, B. Y., Chuang, Y. C., \\u0026amp; Guo, Y. L. (2017). Ambient fungal spore concentration in a subtropical metropolis: Temporal distributions and meteorological determinants. \\u003cem\\u003eAerosol and air quality research\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e17\\u003c/em\\u003e(8), 2051-2063. https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2016.10.0450 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eKarabıcak, S., Bıyıklıoğlu, O., Farooq, Q., Oteros, J., Gal\\u0026aacute;n, C., \\u0026amp; \\u0026Ccedil;eter, T. (2025). Investigating the relationship between atmospheric concentrations of fungal spores and local meteorological variables in Kastamonu, T\\u0026uuml;rkiye. \\u003cem\\u003eAerobiologia\\u003c/em\\u003e, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-025-09852-2 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eKasprzyk, I., Rzepowska, B., \\u0026amp; Wasyl\\u0026oacute;w, M. (2004). Fungal spores in the atmosphere of Rzeszow [South-East Poland]. \\u003cem\\u003eAnnals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e11\\u003c/em\\u003e(2).\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eKatial, R. K., Zhang, Y., Jones, R. H., \\u0026amp; Dyer, P. D. (1997). Atmospheric mold spore counts in relation to meteorological parameters. \\u003cem\\u003eInternational journal of biometeorology\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e41\\u003c/em\\u003e(1), 17-22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004840050048 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eKatsimpris, P., Nikolaidis, C., Deftereou, T.-E., Balatsouras, D., Printza, A., Iliou, T., Alexiadis, T., Chatzisouleiman, I., Samara, M., Constantinidis, J., Lambropoulou, M., \\u0026amp; Katotomichelakis, M. (2022). Three-year pollen and fungi calendar in a Mediterranean region of the Northeast Greece. Allergologia et Immunopathologia, 50(2), 65\\u0026ndash;74. https://doi.org/10.15586/aei.v50i2.491 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eKilic, M., Altunoglu, M. K., Akdogan, G. E., Akpınar, S., Taskın, E., \\u0026amp; Erkal, A. H. (2020). Airborne fungal spore relationships with meteorological parameters and skin prick test results in Elazig, Turkey. \\u003cem\\u003eJournal of environmental health science and engineering\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e18\\u003c/em\\u003e(2), 1271-1280. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40201-020-00545-1 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eKomnos, Ioannis D., Michali, Maria C., Ziavra, Nafsika V., Katotomichelakis, Michael A., \\u0026amp; Kastanioudakis, Ioannis G. (2022). A study of airborne Pollen grains and fungal Spores in the region of Epirus (northwestern Greece). \\u003cem\\u003eCureus\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e14\\u003c/em\\u003e(6). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.26335\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eLevetin, E. (2016). Aerobiology of agricultural pathogens. \\u003cem\\u003eManual of environmental microbiology\\u003c/em\\u003e, 3-2. https://doi.org/10.1128/9781555818821.ch3.2.8 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eLi, D. W., \\u0026amp; Kendrick, B. (1994). Functional relationships between airborne fungal spores and enviromental factors in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, as detected by Canonical correspondence analysis. \\u003cem\\u003eGrana\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e33\\u003c/em\\u003e(3), 166-176. https://doi.org/10.1080/00173139409428995 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eLi, D. W., \\u0026amp; Kendrick, B. (1995). A year-round study on functional relationships of airborne fungi with meteorological factors. \\u003cem\\u003eInternational Journal of Biometeorology\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e39\\u003c/em\\u003e(2), 74-80. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01212584 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eLiu, H. F., Liao, J., Chen, X. Y., Liu, Q. K., Yu, Z. H., \\u0026amp; Deng, J. X. (2019). A novel species and a new record of \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e isolated from two Solanaceae plants in China. \\u003cem\\u003eMycological Progress\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e18\\u003c/em\\u003e(8), 1005-1012. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11557-019-01504-3 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eMansuroğlu, S., \\u0026amp; Dağ, V. (2016). Bing\\u0026ouml;l İlinin peyzaj potansiyelinin kırsal turizm olanakları (SWOT analizi y\\u0026ouml;ntemi kullanılarak) a\\u0026ccedil;ısından değerlendirilmesi. \\u003cem\\u003eMediterranean Agricultural Sciences\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e29\\u003c/em\\u003e(1), 9-16.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eNilsson, S., \\u0026amp; Persson, S. (1981). Tree pollen spectra in the Stockholm region (Sweden). 1973\\u0026ndash;1980. \\u003cem\\u003eGrana, 20\\u003c/em\\u003e, 179-182. https://doi.org/10.1080/00173138109427661 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eNussbaum, M. C. (1991). The literary imagination in public life. \\u003cem\\u003eNew Literary History\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e22\\u003c/em\\u003e(4), 877-910. https://doi.org/10.2307/469070 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eOg\\u0026oacute;rek, R., Lejman, A., Pusz, W., Miłuch, A., \\u0026amp; Miodyńska, P. (2012). Characteristics and taxonomy of \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e fungi. \\u003cem\\u003eMikologia lekarska\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e19\\u003c/em\\u003e(2), 80-85.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eOliveira, M., Ribeiro, H., \\u0026amp; Abreu, I. (2005). Annual variation of fungal spores in atmosphere of Porto: 2003\\u003cem\\u003e. \\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cem\\u003eAnnals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine. 12\\u003c/em\\u003e, 309\\u0026ndash;315.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eOliveira, M., Ribeiro, H., Delgado, J. L., \\u0026amp; Abreu, I. (2009). The effects of meteorological factors on airborne fungal spore concentration in two areas differing in urbanisation level. \\u003cem\\u003eInternational journal of biometeorology\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e53\\u003c/em\\u003e(1), 61-73. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-008-0191-2 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eOlsen, Y., Skj\\u0026oslash;th, C. A., Hertel, O., Rasmussen, K., Sigsgaard, T., \\u0026amp; Gosewinkel, U. (2020). Airborne \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spore concentrations through 26 years in Copenhagen, Denmark. \\u003cem\\u003eAerobiologia\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e36\\u003c/em\\u003e(2), 141-157. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-019-09618-7 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003e\\u0026Ouml;zbay, N., Ergun, M., Osmanoğlu, A., \\u0026amp; \\u0026Ccedil;akır, A. (2015). Bing\\u0026ouml;l\\u0026rsquo;de bitkisel \\u0026uuml;retimin durumu, sorunları ve \\u0026ccedil;\\u0026ouml;z\\u0026uuml;m \\u0026ouml;nerileri. T\\u0026uuml;rk Doğa ve Fen Dergisi, 4(1), 54-58.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003ePakpour, S., Li, D. W., \\u0026amp; Klironomos, J. (2015). Relationships of fungal spore concentrations in the air and meteorological factors. \\u003cem\\u003eFungal Ecology\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e13\\u003c/em\\u003e, 130-134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funeco.2014.09.008\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eReis, A., \\u0026amp; Boiteux, L. S. (2010). \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e species infecting Brassicaceae in the Brazilian neotropics: geographical distribution, host range and specificity. \\u003cem\\u003eJournal of plant Pathology\\u003c/em\\u003e, 661-668.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eReyes, E. S., de la Cruz, D. R., \\u0026amp; S\\u0026aacute;nchez, J. S. (2016). First fungal spore calendar of the middle-west of the Iberian Peninsula. \\u003cem\\u003eAerobiologia\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e32\\u003c/em\\u003e(3), 529-539. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-016-9430-x \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eRicci, S., Bruni, M., Meriggi, A., \\u0026amp; Corsico, R. (1995). Aerobiological monitoring of \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e fungal spores: a comparison between surveys in 1992 and 1993 and local meteorological conditions. \\u003cem\\u003eAerobiologia\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e11\\u003c/em\\u003e(3), 195-199. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02450039 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eRodr\\u0026iacute;guez-Rajo, F. J., \\u0026amp; Iglesias, I. (2005). Variation assessment of airborne \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores at different bioclimatical conditions. \\u003cem\\u003eMycological research\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e109\\u003c/em\\u003e(4), 497-507. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0953756204001777\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eSabariego, S., Diaz De la Guardia, C., \\u0026amp; Alba, F. (2000). The effect of meteorological factors on the daily variation of airborne fungal spores in Granada (southern Spain). \\u003cem\\u003eInternational journal of biometeorology\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e44\\u003c/em\\u003e(1), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004840050131 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eSadyś, M., Kennedy, R., Skj\\u0026oslash;th, C. A. (2015). An analysis of local wind and air mass directions and their impact on \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e distribution using HYSPLIT and circular statistics. \\u003cem\\u003eFungal Ecology\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e18\\u003c/em\\u003e, 56-66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funeco.2015.09.006\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eŞen, B., \\u0026amp; Asan, A. (2001). Airborne fungi in vegetable growing areas of Edirne, Turkey. \\u003cem\\u003eAerobiologia\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e17\\u003c/em\\u003e(1), 69-75. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007604417192 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eSevindik, M., \\u0026amp; Tosunoglu, A. (2025). Temporal variability of aeromycoflora and their relationship with meteorological factors in Şanlıurfa (T\\u0026uuml;rkiye). \\u003cem\\u003eGrana\\u003c/em\\u003e, 1\\u0026ndash;16. https://doi.org/10.1080/00173134.2025.2565187 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eSindt, C., Besancenot, J. P., \\u0026amp; Thibaudon, M. (2016). Airborne \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e fungal spores and climate change in France. \\u003cem\\u003eAerobiologia\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e32\\u003c/em\\u003e(1), 53-68. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-016-9422-x \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eSkj\\u0026oslash;th, C. A., Damialis, A., Belmonte, J., De Linares, C., Fern\\u0026aacute;ndez-Rodr\\u0026iacute;guez, S., Grinn-Gofroń, A., ... \\u0026amp; Werner, M. (2016). Alternaria spores in the air across Europe: abundance, seasonality and relationships with climate, meteorology and local environment. \\u003cem\\u003eAerobiologia\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e32\\u003c/em\\u003e(1), 3-22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-016-9426-6 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eSkj\\u0026oslash;th, C. A., Sommer, J., Frederiksen, L., \\u0026amp; Gosewinkel Karlson, U. (2012). Crop harvest in Denmark and Central Europe contributes to the local load of airborne \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spore concentrations in Copenhagen. \\u003cem\\u003eAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e12\\u003c/em\\u003e(22), 11107-11123. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-12-11107-2012 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eSolomon, W. R. (1978). Aerobiology and inhalant allergens. 1. Pollens and fungi. In E. Middleton, C. E. Reed, \\u0026amp; E. F. Ellis (Eds.) Allergy: Principles and practice (pp. 312\\u0026ndash; 372). St. Louis: Mosby.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eSrivastava, A. K., \\u0026amp; Wadhvvani, K. (1992). Dispersion and allergenic manifestations of \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e airspora. \\u003cem\\u003eGrana\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e31\\u003c/em\\u003e(1), 61-66. https://doi.org/10.1080/00173139209427827 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eStach, A. (1997). Dobowe wahania ste˛zenia pyłku wybranych taksonow alergogennych w powietrzu nad Poznaniem 1996 roku. In: I Ogo\\u0026acute;lnopolska Konferencja Naukowa: Biologia kwitnienia, nektarowania i zapylania roslin, Lublin 13\\u0026ndash;14 listopada 1997, Lubelskie Towarzystwo Naukowe, pp. 197\\u0026ndash;203.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eStein, A.F., Draxler, R.R., Rolph, G.D., Stunder, B.J.B., Cohen, M.D., Ngan, F. (2015). NOAA\\u0026rsquo;S HYSPLIT atmospheric transport and dispersion modeling system. \\u003cem\\u003eBulletin of American Meteorological Society,\\u003c/em\\u003e \\u003cem\\u003e96 \\u003c/em\\u003e(12), 2059\\u0026ndash;2078. https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-14-00110.1\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eStennett, P. J., \\u0026amp; Beggs, P. J. (2004). \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores in the atmosphere of Sydney, Australia, and relationships with meteorological factors. \\u003cem\\u003eInternational Journal of Biometeorology\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e49\\u003c/em\\u003e(2), 98-105. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-004-0217-3 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eTakahashi, T. (1997). Airborne fungal colony-forming units in outdoor and indoor environments in Yokohama, Japan. \\u003cem\\u003eMycopathol, 139\\u003c/em\\u003e:23-33.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eThibaudon, M., \\u0026amp; Lachasse, C. (2006). \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e: dispersion atmosph\\u0026eacute;rique, rythmes nycth\\u0026eacute;m\\u0026eacute;ral et saisonnier. \\u003cem\\u003eRevue fran\\u0026ccedil;aise d\\u0026apos;allergologie et d\\u0026apos;immunologie clinique\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e46\\u003c/em\\u003e(3), 188-196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.allerg.2006.01.025 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eTosunoglu, A., \\u0026amp; Bicakci, A. (2015). Seasonal and intradiurnal variation of airborne pollen concentrations in Bodrum, SW Turkey. \\u003cem\\u003eEnvironmental monitoring and Assessment\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e187\\u003c/em\\u003e(4), 167. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4384-y \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eTroutt, C., \\u0026amp; Levetin, E. J. I. J. (2001). Correlation of spring spore concentrations and meteorological conditions in Tulsa, Oklahoma. \\u003cem\\u003eInternational Journal of Biometeorology\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e45\\u003c/em\\u003e(2), 64-74. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004840100087 \\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003c/ol\\u003e\"}],\"fulltextSource\":\"\",\"fullText\":\"\",\"funders\":[],\"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow\":false,\"hasManuscriptDocX\":true,\"hasOptedInToPreprint\":true,\"hasPassedJournalQc\":\"\",\"hasAnyPriority\":false,\"hideJournal\":true,\"highlight\":\"\",\"institution\":\"\",\"isAcceptedByJournal\":false,\"isAuthorSuppliedPdf\":false,\"isDeskRejected\":\"\",\"isHiddenFromSearch\":false,\"isInQc\":false,\"isInWorkflow\":false,\"isPdf\":false,\"isPdfUpToDate\":true,\"isWithdrawnOrRetracted\":false,\"journal\":{\"display\":true,\"email\":\"info@researchsquare.com\",\"identity\":\"researchsquare\",\"isNatureJournal\":false,\"hasQc\":true,\"allowDirectSubmit\":true,\"externalIdentity\":\"\",\"sideBox\":\"\",\"snPcode\":\"\",\"submissionUrl\":\"/submission\",\"title\":\"Research Square\",\"twitterHandle\":\"researchsquare\",\"acdcEnabled\":true,\"dfaEnabled\":false,\"editorialSystem\":\"\",\"reportingPortfolio\":\"\",\"inReviewEnabled\":false,\"inReviewRevisionsEnabled\":true},\"keywords\":\"Airborne fungal spores, Aeromycology, Allergy, Biomonitoring, Meteorological parameters\",\"lastPublishedDoi\":\"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8041888/v1\",\"lastPublishedDoiUrl\":\"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8041888/v1\",\"license\":{\"name\":\"CC BY 4.0\",\"url\":\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/\"},\"manuscriptAbstract\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eResearch has demonstrated that spores of \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e Link and \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e N\\u0026eacute;es have significant allergenic effects on individuals who are highly susceptible to allergies. Additionally, species within these two genera have an adverse impact on important agricultural crops, resulting in reduced yields. This study aimed to investigate the annual, seasonal, and diurnal fluctuations of atmospheric spores from the genera \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e over a two-year period in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey. The study was conducted in the city centre of Bing\\u0026ouml;l, using a Hirst-type sampler. A total of 25,264 \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores were detected in the atmosphere during the study period. \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores were approximately four times more abundant than \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores throughout the study. In both years, the highest spore concentrations were recorded in May. \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores exhibited concentrations above the daily allergy threshold value for only 6 days, but \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores did not pose a risk for allergies. Main Spore Season (MSS) data were calculated for both types of spores, revealing that MSS started earlier in the first year than in the second year for \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores. The daily concentration of \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores reached its highest level at noon, whereas \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spore concentrations peaked in the morning. Evaluation of two years of daily data showed that the highest concentration of \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e spores occurred between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m., while \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spores peaked between 2:00 and 3:00 p.m. Significant differences between the two years were found for \\u003cem\\u003eAlternaria\\u003c/em\\u003e and \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spore concentrations and related average humidity values; however, no differences were observed for other parameters. Daily \\u003cem\\u003eCladosporium\\u003c/em\\u003e spore concentrations exhibited a statistically significant positive correlation with wind speed and a significant negative correlation with rainfall. Due to Bing\\u0026ouml;l\\u0026rsquo;s unique geographical structure, surrounded by very high mountains, peak days in the season, and timeless peaks in terms of spore concentrations, the possible origin of spore types was further evaluated using the HYSPLIT trajectory model.\\u003c/p\\u003e\",\"manuscriptTitle\":\"Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Alternaria and Cladosporium Spores in the Bowl-Shaped Bingöl Basin; with Particular Emphasis on the Prevailing Winds of the Mountainous Anatolian Plateau (Eastern Turkey)\",\"msid\":\"\",\"msnumber\":\"\",\"nonDraftVersions\":[{\"code\":1,\"date\":\"2025-12-18 14:29:40\",\"doi\":\"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8041888/v1\",\"editorialEvents\":[{\"type\":\"communityComments\",\"content\":0}],\"status\":\"published\",\"journal\":{\"display\":true,\"email\":\"info@researchsquare.com\",\"identity\":\"researchsquare\",\"isNatureJournal\":false,\"hasQc\":true,\"allowDirectSubmit\":true,\"externalIdentity\":\"\",\"sideBox\":\"\",\"snPcode\":\"\",\"submissionUrl\":\"/submission\",\"title\":\"Research Square\",\"twitterHandle\":\"researchsquare\",\"acdcEnabled\":true,\"dfaEnabled\":false,\"editorialSystem\":\"\",\"reportingPortfolio\":\"\",\"inReviewEnabled\":false,\"inReviewRevisionsEnabled\":true}}],\"origin\":\"\",\"ownerIdentity\":\"5b43e48f-7300-41bb-a815-846f7dc5eb36\",\"owner\":[],\"postedDate\":\"December 18th, 2025\",\"published\":true,\"recentEditorialEvents\":[],\"rejectedJournal\":[],\"revision\":\"\",\"amendment\":\"\",\"status\":\"posted\",\"subjectAreas\":[],\"tags\":[],\"updatedAt\":\"2026-01-28T16:40:40+00:00\",\"versionOfRecord\":[],\"versionCreatedAt\":\"2025-12-18 14:29:40\",\"video\":\"\",\"vorDoi\":\"\",\"vorDoiUrl\":\"\",\"workflowStages\":[]},\"version\":\"v1\",\"identity\":\"rs-8041888\",\"journalConfig\":\"researchsquare\"},\"__N_SSP\":true},\"page\":\"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]\",\"query\":{\"redirect\":\"/article/rs-8041888\",\"identity\":\"rs-8041888\",\"version\":[\"v1\"]},\"buildId\":\"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7\",\"isFallback\":false,\"isExperimentalCompile\":false,\"dynamicIds\":[84888],\"gssp\":true,\"scriptLoader\":[]}","source_license":"CC-BY-4.0","license_restricted":false}