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1. Global mosquito observations dashboard (GMOD): creating a user-friendly web interface fueled by citizen science to monitor invasive and vector mosquitoes

   https://doi.org/10.1186/s12942-023-00350-7  

   Uelmen, Jr., Johnny A. ; Clark, Andrew ; Palmer, John ; Kohler, Jared ; Van Dyke, Landon C. ; Low, Russanne ; Mapes, Connor D. ; Carney, Ryan M. ( October 2023 , International Journal of Health Geographics)

   Mosquitoes and the diseases they transmit pose a significant public health threat worldwide, causing more fatalities than any other animal. To effectively combat this issue, there is a need for increased public awareness and mosquito control. However, traditional surveillance programs are time-consuming, expensive, and lack scalability. Fortunately, the widespread availability of mobile devices with high-resolution cameras presents a unique opportunity for mosquito surveillance. In response to this, the Global Mosquito Observations Dashboard (GMOD) was developed as a free, public platform to improve the detection and monitoring of invasive and vector mosquitoes through citizen science participation worldwide.

   GMOD is an interactive web interface that collects and displays mosquito observation and habitat data supplied by four datastreams with data generated by citizen scientists worldwide. By providing information on the locations and times of observations, the platform enables the visualization of mosquito population trends and ranges. It also serves as an educational resource, encouraging collaboration and data sharing. The data acquired and displayed on GMOD is freely available in multiple formats and can be accessed from any device with an internet connection.

   Since its launch less than a year ago, GMOD has already proven its value. It has successfully integrated and processed large volumes of real-time data (~ 300,000 observations), offering valuable and actionable insights into mosquito species prevalence, abundance, and potential distributions, as well as engaging citizens in community-based surveillance programs.

   GMOD is a cloud-based platform that provides open access to mosquito vector data obtained from citizen science programs. Its user-friendly interface and data filters make it valuable for researchers, mosquito control personnel, and other stakeholders. With its expanding data resources and the potential for machine learning integration, GMOD is poised to support public health initiatives aimed at reducing the spread of mosquito-borne diseases in a cost-effective manner, particularly in regions where traditional surveillance methods are limited. GMOD is continually evolving, with ongoing development of powerful artificial intelligence algorithms to identify mosquito species and other features from submitted data. The future of citizen science holds great promise, and GMOD stands as an exciting initiative in this field.

    

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2. Integrating Global Citizen Science Platforms to Enable Next-Generation Surveillance of Invasive and Vector Mosquitoes

   https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13080675  

   Carney, Ryan ; Mapes, Connor ; Low, Russanne ; Long, Alex ; Bowser, Anne ; Durieux, David ; Rivera, Karlene ; Dekramanjian, Berj ; Bartumeus, Frederic ; Guerrero, Daniel ; et al ( August 2022 , Insects)

   Mosquito-borne diseases continue to ravage humankind with >700 million infections and nearly one million deaths every year. Yet only a small percentage of the >3500 mosquito species transmit diseases, necessitating both extensive surveillance and precise identification. Unfortunately, such efforts are costly, time-consuming, and require entomological expertise. As envisioned by the Global Mosquito Alert Consortium, citizen science can provide a scalable solution. However, disparate data standards across existing platforms have thus far precluded truly global integration. Here, utilizing Open Geospatial Consortium standards, we harmonized four data streams from three established mobile apps—Mosquito Alert, iNaturalist, and GLOBE Observer’s Mosquito Habitat Mapper and Land Cover—to facilitate interoperability and utility for researchers, mosquito control personnel, and policymakers. We also launched coordinated media campaigns that generated unprecedented numbers and types of observations, including successfully capturing the first images of targeted invasive and vector species. Additionally, we leveraged pooled image data to develop a toolset of artificial intelligence algorithms for future deployment in taxonomic and anatomical identification. Ultimately, by harnessing the combined powers of citizen science and artificial intelligence, we establish a next-generation surveillance framework to serve as a united front to combat the ongoing threat of mosquito-borne diseases worldwide. 

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3. Assessing temperature‐dependent competition between two invasive mosquito species

   https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2334  

   Evans, Michelle V. ; Drake, John M. ; Jones, Lindsey ; Murdock, Courtney C. ( April 2021 , Ecological Applications)

   Invasive mosquitoes are expanding their ranges into new geographic areas and interacting with resident mosquito species. Understanding how novel interactions can affect mosquito population dynamics is necessary to predict transmission risk at invasion fronts. Mosquito life‐history traits are extremely sensitive to temperature, and this can lead to temperature‐dependent competition between competing invasive mosquito species. We explored temperature‐dependent competition betweenAedes aegyptiandAnopheles stephensi, two invasive mosquito species whose distributions overlap in India, the Middle East, and North Africa, whereAn. stephensiis currently expanding into the endemic range ofAe. aegypti. We followed mosquito cohorts raised at different intraspecific and interspecific densities across five temperatures (16–32°C) to measure traits relevant for population growth and to estimate species’ per capita growth rates. We then used these growth rates to derive each species’ competitive ability at each temperature. We find strong evidence for asymmetric competition at all temperatures, withAe. aegyptiemerging as the dominant competitor. This was primarily because of differences in larval survival and development times across all temperatures that resulted in a higher estimated intrinsic growth rate and competitive tolerance estimate forAe. aegypticompared toAn. stephensi. The spread ofAn. stephensiinto the African continent could lead to urban transmission of malaria, an otherwise rural disease, increasing the human population at risk and complicating malaria elimination efforts. Competition has resulted in habitat segregation of other invasive mosquito species, and our results suggest that it may play a role in determining the distribution ofAn. stephensiacross its invasive range.

    

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4. Building International Capacity for Citizen Scientist Engagement in Mosquito Surveillance and Mitigation: The GLOBE Program’s GLOBE Observer Mosquito Habitat Mapper

   https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13070624  

   Low, Russanne D. ; Schwerin, Theresa G. ; Boger, Rebecca A. ; Soeffing, Cassie ; Nelson, Peder V. ; Bartlett, Dan ; Ingle, Prachi ; Kimura, Matteo ; Clark, Andrew ( July 2022 , Insects)

   The GLOBE Program’s GLOBE Observer Mosquito Habitat Mapper is a no-cost citizen scientist data collection tool compatible with Android and iOS devices. Available in 14 languages and 126 countries, it supports mosquito vector surveillance, mitigation, and education by interested individuals and as part of participatory community surveillance programs. For low-resource communities where mosquito control services are inadequate, the Mosquito Habitat Mapper supports local health action, empowerment, and environmental justice. The tangible benefits to human health supported by the Mosquito Habitat Mapper have encouraged its wide adoption, with more than 32,000 observations submitted from 84 countries. The Mosquito Habitat Mapper surveillance and data collection tool is complemented by an open database, a map visualization interface, data processing and analysis tools, and a supporting education and outreach campaign. The mobile app tool and associated research and education assets can be rapidly deployed in the event of a pandemic or local disease outbreak, contributing to global readiness and resilience in the face of mosquito-borne disease. Here, we describe the app, the Mosquito Habitat Mapper information system, examples of Mosquito Habitat Mapper deployment in scientific research, and the outreach campaign that supports volunteer training and STEM education of students worldwide. 

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5. Mapping current and future thermal limits to suitability for malaria transmission by the invasive mosquito Anopheles stephensi

   https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-023-04531-4  

   Ryan, Sadie J. ; Lippi, Catherine A. ; Villena, Oswaldo C. ; Singh, Aspen ; Murdock, Courtney C. ; Johnson, Leah R. ( March 2023 , Malaria Journal)

   Anopheles stephensiis a malaria-transmitting mosquito that has recently expanded from its primary range in Asia and the Middle East, to locations in Africa. This species is a competent vector of bothPlasmodium falciparumandPlasmodium vivaxmalaria. Perhaps most alarming, the characteristics ofAn.stephensi, such as container breeding and anthropophily, make it particularly adept at exploiting built environments in areas with no prior history of malaria risk.

   In this paper, global maps of thermal transmission suitability and people at risk (PAR) for malaria transmission byAn.stephensiwere created, under current and future climate. Temperature-dependent transmission suitability thresholds derived from recently published species-specific thermal curves were used to threshold gridded, monthly mean temperatures under current and future climatic conditions. These temperature driven transmission models were coupled with gridded population data for 2020 and 2050, under climate-matched scenarios for future outcomes, to compare with baseline predictions for 2020 populations.

   Using the Global Burden of Disease regions approach revealed that heterogenous regional increases and decreases in risk did not mask the overall pattern of massive increases of PAR for malaria transmission suitability withAn.stephensipresence. General patterns of poleward expansion for thermal suitability were seen for bothP.falciparumandP.vivaxtransmission potential.

   Understanding the potential suitability forAn.stephensitransmission in a changing climate provides a key tool for planning, given an ongoing invasion and expansion of the vector. Anticipating the potential impact of onward expansion to transmission suitable areas, and the size of population at risk under future climate scenarios, and where they occur, can serve as a large-scale call for attention, planning, and monitoring.

    

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