1. GLOBE Mosquito Habitat Mapper Citizen Science Data 2017–2020.
- Author
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Low, Russanne, Boger, Rebecca, Nelson, Peder, and Kimura, Matteo
- Subjects
MOSQUITOES ,MOSQUITO vectors ,CITIZEN science ,MOBILE operating systems ,VECTOR-borne diseases ,DATA science ,HABITATS - Abstract
The GLOBE Program's GLOBE Observer application is a free citizen science mobile data collection and visualization tool compatible with iOS and Android operating systems. Citizen scientists armed with the app can report the mosquito larval habitats they identify using the GLOBE Mosquito Habitat Mapper tool. This data can complement the climate, weather, and land cover data obtained from satellite measurements by scientists who develop risk models for mosquito‐borne diseases. Public participation in mosquito surveillance research provides the opportunity to obtain the volume, velocity and variety of data needed to fight the threat of vector‐borne diseases, especially in under‐resourced communities with minimal to no municipal surveillance and mitigation services. GLOBE Mosquito Habitat Mappers document and describe potential and active mosquito larval habitats in and around their homes and communities. An easy‐to‐use pictorial interface enables users to geolocate and describe oviposition sites encountered, count and identify mosquito larvae, and when appropriate, eliminate the larval habitats. During Mosquito Habitat Mapper's first 3 years of use, over 24,000 data observations have been reported throughout the world. This technical report summarizes GLOBE Mosquito Habitat Mapper data reported by GLOBE citizen scientists from three regions: Africa, Asia and the Pacific Islands, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Localized mosquito larvae distribution patterns were examined by comparing data collected in three cities in Senegal–Dakar, Touba, and Thilmakha. The Senegal data show habitat and genera differences among mosquitoes identified by citizen scientists in the cities and illustrates the potential of the app for community‐based surveillance and research. Plain Language Summary: The GLOBE Program's GLOBE Observer application is a free citizen science mobile data collection and visualization tool compatible with iOS and Android operating systems. Citizen scientists using the app can report mosquito larval habitats they identify using the GLOBE Mosquito Habitat Mapper tool. These data can complement the climate, weather, and land cover data obtained from satellite measurements by scientists who develop risk models for mosquito borne diseases. Besides supporting scientific research, GLOBE Mosquito Habitat Mappers contribute concretely to the health of their community by locating and reporting the locations of standing water where adult mosquitos can lay their eggs. When the larval habitat is found in a container, such as a cistern or old tire, citizen scientists use the app to indicate if they have removed, dumped, or covered the standing water so the young mosquitoes can't mature into biting adults. This technical paper describes the data reported by citizen scientists during the first three years since the release of the GLOBE Mosquito Habitat Mapper in Africa, Asia and the Pacific Islands, and Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as a closer examination of data in three cities in Senegal, West Africa. Key Points: GLOBE Observer is The GLOBE Program's mobile app. The GLOBE Mosquito Habitat Mapper on this platform enables citizen scientists to identify, describe and report mosquito larvae and habitatsGLOBE Mosquito Habitat Mappers not only collect data, but participate in source reduction and reduce risk of disease in their communityGLOBE Mosquito Habitat Mapper data has practical applications in municipal surveillance as well as in mosquito vector borne disease research [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
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