FT Annika Saarto - UTU Research Portal

Annika Saarto
FT

- Unit Manager,
- Docent
Biodiversity Unit of the University of Turku (Faculty of Science)

Biodiversity Unit

annika.saarto@utu.fi

+358 29 450 3982

+358 50 442 0249

Vesilinnantie 5

Turku

ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1568-3495

ORCID

Areas of expertise

Aerobiology; Pollen and spore monitoring; Biodiversity

Biography

Research

On-going projects and collaborations:

Aeroallergens and immunological preparedness for future climate scenarios: implications for public health promotion (ALL-IMPRESS), Academy of Finland, 2020-2023. Coordination: University of Eastern Finland (prof. Marjut Roponen). Partner: Finnish Meteorological Institute (doc. Mika Komppula).

Pedagogics of Biodiversity and Environmental Sustainability (PEBES), Finnish Agency for Education, 2022-2024. Coordination: University of Turku. Parners: Humak University of Applied Sciences, Bostwana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Namibia. http://sites.utu.fi/pebes

A System for real-time observation of Aeroallergens (SYLVA), Horizon Europe, 2023-2026. Coordination: Finnish Meteorological Institute (prof. Mikhail Sofiev).

New approaches in detection of pathogens and aeroallergens, COST action, The European Cooperation in Science and Technology, 2019-2023. Coordination: Aarhus University (prof. Carsten Skjøth).

Biodiversity Education Network, Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, 2021-2022. Coordination: University of Eastern Finland (prof. Elina Oksanen). https://www.biodiversityeducation.fi/ (only in Finnish)

Publications

1 of 4

Baobab & Marula: New Solutions to Global Warming and Food Security (2025) Adefila, Arinola; Cheikhyoussef, Ahmad; Egbadzor, Kenneth Fafa; Isomäki, Risto; Lepetu, Joyce; Saarto, Annika
(D6 Editorial work for a non-refereed scientific compilation book)
Digital Monitoring of Symptoms and Lung Function During Birch Pollen Season in Pediatric Patients (2025)
- Clinical and Translational Allergy
Tanninen, Tiina Helena; Reiterä, Paula Hannele; Saarto, Annika; Burman, Janne; Pelkonen, Anna Susanna; Mäkelä, Mika Juhani
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal)
Ilmastonmuutos muovaa siitepölykautta (2025)
- Lääkärilehti
Pessi, Anna-Mari; Saarto, Annika; Louna-Korteniemi, Maria
(A2 Refereed review article in a scientific journal )
Introduction: Why are Baobab and Marula so Important? (2025) Baobab & Marula: New Solutions to Global Warming and Food Security Adefila, Arinola; Cheikhyoussef, Ahmad; Egbadzor, Kenneth Fafa; Isomäki, Risto; Lepetu, Joyce; Saarto, Annika
(D2 Article in a professional compilation book)
Lidar estimates of birch pollen number, mass, and CCN-related concentrations (2025)
- Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Filioglou, Maria; Tiitta, Petri; Shang, Xiaoxia; Leskinen, Ari; Ahola, Pasi; Patsi, Sanna; Saarto, Annika; Vakkari, Ville; Isopahkala, Uula; Komppula, Mika
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal)
Locally emitted fungal spores serve as high-temperature ice nucleating particles in the European sub-Arctic (2025)
- Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Gratzl, Jürgen; Böhmländer, Alexander; Pätsi, Sanna; Pogner, Clara-E.; Gorfer, Markus; Brus, David; Doulgeris, Konstantinos Matthaios; Wieland, Florian; Asmi, Eija; Saarto, Annika; Möhler, Ottmar; Stolzenburg, Dominik; Grothe, Hinrich
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal)
Ragweed (Ambrosia) pollen transport and seed production in Finland during 1990–2022 (2025)
- Aerobiologia
Louna-Korteniemi, Maria; Pätsi, Sanna; Ahola, Pasi; Ekebom, Agneta; Kyyhkynen, Maiju; Toiviainen, Linnea; Viljanen, Marika; Saarto, Annika
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal)
50 vuotta siitepölyseurantaa Suomessa (2024)
- Allergia, Iho & Astma
Saarto, Annika
(E1 Popularised article)
Airborne DNA reveals predictable spatial and seasonal dynamics of fungi (2024)
- Nature
Abrego, Nerea; Furneaux, Brendan; Hardwick, Bess; Somervuo, Panu; Palorinne, Isabella; Aguilar-Trigueros, Carlos A.; Andrew, Nigel R.; Babiy, Ulyana V.; Bao, Tan; Bazzano, Gisela; Bondarchuk, Svetlana N.; Bonebrake, Timothy C.; Brennan, Georgina L.; Bret-Harte, Syndonia; Bässler, Claus; Cagnolo, Luciano; Cameron, Erin K.; Chapurlat, Elodie; Creer, Simon; D’Acqui, Luigi P.; de Vere, Natasha; Desprez-Loustau, Marie-Laure; Dongmo, Michel A. K.; Jacobsen, Ida B. Dyrholm; Fisher, Brian L.; Flores de Jesus, Miguel; Gilbert, Gregory S.; Griffith, Gareth W.; Gritsuk, Anna A.; Gross, Andrin; Grudd, Håkan; Halme, Panu; Hanna, Rachid; Hansen, Jannik; Hansen, Lars Holst; Hegbe, Apollon D. M. T.; Hill, Sarah; Hogg, Ian D.; Hultman, Jenni; Hyde, Kevin D.; Hynson, Nicole A.; Ivanova, Natalia; Karisto, Petteri; Kerdraon, Deirdre; Knorre, Anastasia; Krisai-Greilhuber, Irmgard; Kurhinen, Juri; Kuzmina, Masha; Lecomte, Nicolas; Lecomte, Erin; Loaiza, Viviana; Lundin, Erik; Meire, Alexander; Mešić, Armin; Miettinen, Otto; Monkhouse, Norman; Mortimer, Peter; Müller, Jörg; Nilsson, R. Henrik; Nonti, Puani Yannick C.; Nordén, Jenni; Nordén, Björn; Norros, Veera; Paz, Claudia; Pellikka, Petri; Pereira, Danilo; Petch, Geoff; Pitkänen, Juha-Matti; Popa, Flavius; Potter, Caitlin; Purhonen, Jenna; Pätsi, Sanna; Rafiq, Abdullah; Raharinjanahary, Dimby; Rakos, Niklas; Rathnayaka, Achala R.; Raundrup, Katrine; Rebriev, Yury A.; Rikkinen, Jouko; Rogers, Hanna M. K.; Rogovsky, Andrey; Rozhkov, Yuri; Runnel, Kadri; Saarto, Annika; Savchenko, Anton; Schlegel, Markus; Schmidt, Niels Martin; Seibold, Sebastian; Skjøth, Carsten; Stengel, Elisa; Sutyrina, Svetlana V.; Syvänperä, Ilkka; Tedersoo, Leho; Timm, Jebidiah; Tipton, Laura; Toju, Hirokazu; Uscka-Perzanowska, Maria; van der Bank, Michelle; van der Bank, F. Herman; Vandenbrink, Bryan; Ventura, Stefano; Vignisson, Solvi R.; Wang, Xiaoyang; Weisser, Wolfgang W.; Wijesinghe, Subodini N.; Wright, S. Joseph; Yang, Chunyan; Yorou, Nourou S.; Young, Amanda; Yu, Douglas W.; Zakharov, Evgeny V.; Hebert, Paul D. N.; Roslin, Tomas; Ovaskainen, Otso
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal)
European pollen reanalysis, 1980-2022, for alder, birch, and olive (2024)
- Scientific Data
Sofiev, Mikhail; Palamarchuk, Julia; Kouznetsov, Rostislav; Abramidze, Tamuna; Adams-Groom, Beverley; Antunes, Celia M.; Arino, Arturo H.; Bastl, Maximilian; Belmonte, Jordina; Berger, Uwe E.; Bonini, Maira; Bruffaerts, Nicolas; Buters, Jeroen; Carinanos, Paloma; Celenk, Sevcan; Ceriotti, Valentina; Charalampopoulos, Athanasios; Clewlow, Yolanda; Clot, Bernard; Dahl, Aslog; Damialis, Athanasios; De Linares, Concepcion; De Weger, Letty A.; Dirr, Lukas; Ekebom, Agneta; Fatahi, Yalda; Gonzalez, Maria Fernandez; Gonzalez, Delia Fernandez; Fernandez-Rodriguez, Santiago; Galan, Carmen; Gedda, Bjoern; Gehrig, Regula; Bernstein, Carmi Geller; Roldan, Nestor Gonzalez; Grewling, Lukasz; Hajkova, Lenka; Hänninen, Risto; Hentges, Francois; Jantunen, Juha; Kadantsev, Evgeny; Kasprzyk, Idalia; Kloster, Mathilde; Kluska, Katarzyna; Koenders, Mieke; Laffersova, Janka; Leru, Poliana Mihaela; Lipiec, Agnieszka; Louna-Korteniemi, Maria; Magyar, Donat; Majkowska-Wojciechowska, Barbara; Mäkelä, Mika; Mitrovic, Mirjana; Myszkowska, Dorota; Oliver, Gilles; Ostensson, Pia; Perez-Badia, Rosa; Piotrowska-Weryszko, Krystyna; Prank, Marje; Przedpelska-Wasowicz, Ewa Maria; Pätsi, Sanna; Rajo, F. Javier Rodriguyez; Ramfjord, Hallvard; Rapiejko, Joanna; Rodinkova, Victoria; Rojo, Jesus; Ruiz-Valenzuela, Luis; Rybnicek, Ondrej; Saarto, Annika; Sauliene, Ingrida; Seliger, Andreja Kofol; Severova, Elena; Shalaboda, Valentina; Sikoparija, Branko; Siljamo, Pilvi; Soares, Joana; Sozinova, Olga; Stangel, Anders; Stjepanovic, Barbara; Teinemaa, Erik; Tyuryakov, Svyatoslav; Trigo, M. Mar; Uppstu, Andreas; Vill, Mart; Vira, Julius; Visez, Nicolas; Vitikainen, Tiina; Vokou, Despoina; Weryszko-Chmielewska, Elzbieta; Karppinen, Ari
(A1 Refereed data article in a scientific journal)
Forecasting daily total pollen concentrations on a global scale (2024)
- Allergy
Makra, László; Coviello, Luca; Gobbi, Andrea; Jurman, Giuseppe; Furlanello, Cesare; Brunato, Mauro; Ziska, Lewis H.; Hess, Jeremy J.; Damialis, Athanasios; Garcia, Maria Pilar Plaza; Tusnády, Gábor; Czibolya, Lilit; Ihász, István; Deák, Áron József; Mikó, Edit; Dorner, Zita; Harry, Susan K.; Bruffaerts, Nicolas; Packeu, Ann; Saarto, Annika; Toiviainen, Linnea; Louna-Korteniemi, Maria; Pätsi, Sanna; Thibaudon, Michel; Oliver, Gilles; Charalampopoulos, Athanasios; Vokou, Despoina; Przedpelska-Wasowicz, Ewa Maria; Guðjohnsen, Ellý Renée; Bonini, Maira; Celenk, Sevcan; Ozaslan, Cumali; Oh, Jae-Won; Sullivan, Krista; Ford, Linda; Kelly, Michelle; Levetin, Estelle; Myszkowska, Dorota; Severova, Elena; Gehrig, Regula; Calderón-Ezquerro, María Del Carmen; Guerra, César Guerrero; Leiva-Guzmán, Manuel Andres; Ramón, Germán Darío; Barrionuevo, Laura Beatriz; Peter, Jonny; Berman, Dilys; Katelaris, Connie H.; Davies, Janet M.; Burton, Pamela; Beggs, Paul J.; Vergamini, Sandra María; Valencia-Barrera, Rosa María; Traidl-Hoffmann, Claudia
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal)
Global Spore Sampling Project : A global, standardized dataset of airborne fungal DNA (2024)
- Scientific Data
Ovaskainen, Otso; Abrego, Nerea; Furneaux, Brendan; Hardwick, Bess; Somervuo, Panu; Palorinne, Isabella; Andrew, Nigel R.; Babiy, Ulyana V.; Bao, Tan; Bazzano, Gisela; Bondarchuk, Svetlana N.; Bonebrake, Timothy C.; Brennan, Georgina L.; Bret-Harte, Syndonia; Bässler, Claus; Cagnolo, Luciano; Cameron, Erin K.; Chapurlat, Elodie; Creer, Simon; D’Acqui, Luigi P.; de Vere, Natasha; Desprez-Loustau, Marie-Laure; Dongmo, Michel A. K.; Dyrholm Jacobsen, Ida B.; Fisher, Brian L.; Flores de Jesus, Miguel; Gilbert, Gregory S.; Griffith, Gareth W.; Gritsuk, Anna A.; Gross, Andrin; Grudd, Håkan; Halme, Panu; Hanna, Rachid; Hansen, Jannik; Hansen, Lars Holst; Hegbe, Apollon D. M. T.; Hill, Sarah; Hogg, Ian D.; Hultman, Jenni; Hyde, Kevin D.; Hynson, Nicole A.; Ivanova, Natalia; Karisto, Petteri; Kerdraon, Deirdre; Knorre, Anastasia; Krisai-Greilhuber, Irmgard; Kurhinen, Juri; Kuzmina, Masha; Lecomte, Nicolas; Lecomte, Erin; Loaiza, Viviana; Lundin, Erik; Meire, Alexander; Mešić, Armin; Miettinen, Otto; Monkhause, Norman; Mortimer, Peter; Müller, Jörg; Nilsson, R. Henrik; Nonti, Puani Yannick C.; Nordén, Jenni; Nordén, Björn; Paz, Claudia; Pellikka, Petri; Pereira, Danilo; Petch, Geoff; Pitkänen, Juha-Matti; Popa, Flavius; Potter, Caitlin; Purhonen, Jenna; Pätsi, Sanna; Rafiq, Abdullah; Raharinjanahary, Dimby; Rakos, Niklas; Rathnayaka, Achala R.; Raundrup, Katrine; Rebriev, Yury A.; Rikkinen, Jouko; Rogers, Hanna M. K.; Rogovsky, Andrey; Rozhkov, Yuri; Runnel, Kadri; Saarto, Annika; Savchenko, Anton; Schlegel, Markus; Schmidt, Niels Martin; Seibold, Sebastian; Skjøth, Carsten; Stengel, Elisa; Sutyrina, Svetlana V.; Syvänperä, Ilkka; Tedersoo, Leho; Timm, Jebidiah; Tipton, Laura; Toju, Hirokazu; Uscka-Perzanowska, Maria; van der Bank, Michelle; Herman van der Bank, F.; Vandenbrink, Bryan; Ventura, Stefano; Vignisson, Solvi R.; Wang, Xiaoyang; Weisser, Wolfgang W.; Wijesinghe, Subodini N.; Joseph Wright, S.; Yang, Chunyan; Yorou, Nourou S.; Young, Amanda; Yu, Douglas W.; Zakharov, Evgeny V.; Hebert, Paul D. N.; Roslin, Tomas
(A1 Refereed data article in a scientific journal)
Impact of rising CO2 and temperature on grass phenology, physiology, and pollen release patterns in northern latitudes (2024)
- Environmental and Experimental Botany
Tossavainen, Tarleena; Kivimäenpää, Minna; Martikainen, Maria-Viola; Leskinen, Ari; Heinonen, Tiina; Pessi, Anna-Mari; Louna-Korteniemi, Maria; Pätsi, Sanna; Komppula, Mika; Saarto, Annika; Roponen, Marjut
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal)
Biomonitoring of Indoor Air Fungal or Chemical Toxins with Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes (2023)
- Pathogens
Paavanen-Huhtala Sari, Kalichamy Karunambigai, Pessi Anna-Mari, Häkkilä Sirkku, Saarto Annika Tuomela Marja, Andersson Maria A., Koskinen Päivi J.
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal)
Effects of tree pollen on throughfall element fluxes in European forests (2023)
- Biogeochemistry
Verstraeten Arne, Brufaerts Nicolas, Cristofolini Fabiana, Vanguelova Elena, Neirynck Johan, Genouw Gerrit, De Vos Bruno, Waldner Peter, Thimonier Anne, Nussbaumer Anita, Neumann Mathias, Benham Sue, Rautio Pasi, Ukonmaanaho Liisa, Merilä Päivi, Lindroos Antti-Jussi, Saarto Annika, Reiniharju Jukka, Clarke Nicholas, Timmermann Volkmar, Nicolas Manuel, Schmitt Maria, Meusburger Katrin, Kowalska Anna, Kasprzyk Idalia, Kluska Katarzyna, Grewling Łukasz, Malkiewicz Małgorzata, Vesterdal Lars, Ingerslev Morten, Manninger Miklós, Magyar Donát, Titeux Hugues, Pihl Karlsson Gunilla, Gehrig Regula, Adriaenssens Sandy, Ekebom Agneta, Dahl Åslög, Ferretti Marco, Gottardini Elena
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal)
Spectral dependence of birch and pine pollen optical properties using a synergy of lidar instruments (2023)
- Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Filioglou Maria, Leskinen Ari, Vakkari Ville, O'Connor Ewan, Tuononen Minttu, Tuominen Pekko, Laukkanen Samuli, Toiviainen Linnea, Saarto Annika, Shang Xiaoxia, Tiitta Petri, Komppula Mika
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal)
Automatic detection of airborne pollen: an overview (2022)
- Aerobiologia
Buters Jeroen, Clot Bernard, Galán Carmen, Gehrig Regula, Gilge Stefan, Hentges François, O’Connor David, Sikoparija Branko, Skjoth Carsten, Tummon Fiona, Adams-Groom Beverley, Antunes Célia M., Bruffaerts Nicolas, Çelenk Sevcan, Crouzy Benoit, Guillaud Géraldine, Hajkova Lenka, Seliger Andreja Kofol, Oliver Gilles, Ribeiro Helena, Rodinkova Victoria, Saarto Annika, Sauliene Ingrida, Sozinova Olga, Stjepanovic Barbara
(A2 Refereed review article in a scientific journal )
Bioaerosols in the atmosphere at two sites in Northern Europe in spring 2021: Outline of an experimental campaign (2022)
- Environmental Research
Sofiev Mikhail, Sofieva Svetlana, Palamarchuk Julia, Šaulienė Ingrida, Kadantsev Evgeny, Atanasova Nina, Fatahi Yalda, Kouznetsov Rostislav, Kuula Joel, Noreikaite Auste, Peltonen Martina, Pihlajamäki Timo, Saarto Annika, Svirskaite Julija, Toiviainen Linnea, Tyuryakov Svyatoslav, Šukienė Laura, Asmi Eija, Bamford Dennis, Hyvärinen Antti-Pekka, Karppinen Ari
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal)
Long-distance transport of Ambrosia pollen to Finland 1995-2021 (2022) 11th European Palaeobotany and Palynology Conference Abstracts, Program and Proceedings Louna-Korteniemi, Maria; Saarto, Annika; Pätsi, Sanna; Toiviainen, Linnea.
(Abstract)
Higher airborne pollen concentrations correlated with increased SARS-CoV-2 infection rates, as evidenced from 31 countries across the globe (2021)
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Damialis Athanasios, Gilles Stefanie, Sofiev Mikhail, Sofieva Viktoria, Kolek Franziska, Bayr Daniela, Plaza Maria P, Leier-Wirtz Vivien, Kaschuba Sigrid, Ziska Lewis H, Bielory Leonard, Makra László, Mar Trigo Maria del; COVID-19/POLLEN study group, Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann Claudia
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal)