GLOBE Mosquito Habitat Mapper Citizen Science Data 2017-2020.

Area of Science:

• Environmental science
• Public health
• Citizen science

Background:

• Mosquito-borne diseases pose a significant threat globally.
• Satellite data alone is insufficient for comprehensive mosquito surveillance.
• Under-resourced communities often lack municipal mosquito control services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the GLOBE Mosquito Habitat Mapper tool for citizen science data collection.
• To analyze mosquito larval habitat data reported by citizen scientists.
• To assess the potential of community-based surveillance for vector-borne disease research.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the GLOBE Observer mobile application with the Mosquito Habitat Mapper tool.
• Citizen scientists geolocated, described, and documented mosquito larval habitats.
• Data collected included habitat characteristics, mosquito larvae presence, and identification.
• Analyzed data from Africa, Asia and the Pacific Islands, and Latin America and the Caribbean, with a focus on Senegal.

Main Results:

• Over 24,000 mosquito habitat observations were reported globally in the first three years.
• Citizen science data complements satellite-derived climate and land cover information.
• Analysis of data from Dakar, Touba, and Thilmakha in Senegal revealed localized mosquito habitat and genera differences.

Conclusions:

• The GLOBE Mosquito Habitat Mapper is an effective tool for citizen science mosquito surveillance.
• Public participation in data collection enhances the volume, velocity, and variety of crucial data.
• This approach shows significant potential for community-based research and mitigation of vector-borne diseases, particularly in underserved areas.