Palynological survey of air-borne pollen and spores in the University of Lagos, Akoka Campus, southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Aeropalynological study was conducted in three different locations in the University of Lagos, Akoka campus from the month of April to June 2014. This project aims at surveying the abundance of air-borne palynomorphs and their variation with time. Pollen traps were constructed using buckets, filled with a mixture of 50 ml of glycerol, 10 ml of formaldehyde and 5 ml of phenol and they were placed at the various studied locations, namely Faculty of Science, Senate building and New Hall.  The mixtures were collected at the end of every month throughout the sampling period, analyzed and observed under the microscope. The recovered palynological  assemblage showed a total abundance of 1,229, 833 and 1,433 palynomorph species in the months of April, May and June respectively. The highest abundance of  palynomorphs was recorded in April, June and May at the Faculty of Science, Senate Building and New Hall respectively. A total of 3,495 palynomorphs belonging to  about 22 families were recovered in all. The Poaceae family dominates representing 13.67 % of the total palynomorph count, followed by Cyperaceae (12.72 %)  Euphorbiaceae (5.34 %) Mimosaceae (8.89 %), Fern spores (8.64 %) and Arecaceae (5.85 %).

Key words: Aeropalynology, Palynomorphs, University of Lagos, Southwest