A sensor network based on IoT and istSOS to analyse the catch basin environment in the context of the Ae.Albopictus proliferation in Switzerland.
2021-10-01, 10:30–11:00, Salta

In Switzerland there is an increasing awareness for the expansion of invasive foreign mosquitoes species, such as Aedes Albopictus also known as Asian tiger mosquito, because of their ability to transmit arboviruses (e.g. dengue, chikungunya). These species' prolification are particularly dependent on some environmental parameters such as temperature and rain patterns. In literature there are many studies that analyzed the potential of the proliferation in function of the temperature and they showed an increasing egg mortality when temperatures are below 2° Celsius for a sufficient period of time. Although the Ae. Albopictus can potentially reach the North of the Alps exploiting the traffic crossing the country, according to predictions based on climate driven large-scale model it can proliferate in part of the Swiss Plateau and in the area of the Lake Geneva while other areas, such as Zurich and Basel, seems currently to have too cold winter seasons for the survival of the eggs. However, the increasing of the temperatures due to the climate change, the presence of urban heats and of particular micro-habitats can favor the survival of the disposed eggs.


The monitoring of such micro-areas allows us to better understand the environmental conditions and act in time to monitor or even prevent the establishment of such invasive species.

In this context, the ALBIS (a new integrated system for risk-based surveillance of invasive mosquito Aedes albopictus in Switzerland) project aims at monitoring Ae. albopictus by making data analysis more automated, more dynamic and efficient in order to study the possible migration and establishment of the mosquito in areas where apparently the cold weather conditions during the winter season are not suitable for its proliferation. This is possible through the integration of multidisciplinary aspects such as mosquito surveillance expertise, data monitoring system and population modelling to support the activities of the newly created National Coordination Center for the Monitoring and Control of Invasive Mosquitoes, managed by the Laboratory of Applied Microbiology of the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (LMA – SUPSI).


Authors and Affiliations

Strigaro, Daniele (1), Cannata, Massimiliano (1), Ravasi, Damiana (2), Flacio, Eleonora (2), Antonovic, Milan (1)

(1) Institute of Earth Sciences, SUPSI, Mendrisio, Switzerland
(2) Laboratory of applied microbiology SUPSI, Mendrisio, Switzerland

Track

Academic

Topic

Academic

Level

2 - Basic. General basic knowledge is required.

Language of the Presentation

English