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Funded Project |
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Funding Program:
Regional IPM Competitive Grants - Northeastern |
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Project Title:
Management of the Asian Tiger Mosquito among Socioeconomically Diverse Urban
Neighborhoods through Community-based Education and Involvement |
Project Directors (PDs):
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Lead State: MD Lead Organization: University of Maryland |
| Extension Funding: $39,921 |
| Research Funding: $84,253 |
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Start Date: Sep-11-2011 End Date: Sep-11-2014 |
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Pests Involved: Asian tiger mosquito |
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Site/Commodity: Urban neighborhoods |
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Summary:
This is a Joint Research-Extension project to advance management of the invasive Asian tiger mosquito among urban environments with diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. The Asian tiger is a common human-biting mosquito in urban areas and important in West Nile transmission. Abatement efforts by public agencies are ineffective because it breeds in obscure water-containers spread across private-access land. This project will conduct: (1) research to identify mosquito exposure and evaluate education materials and "citizen science" strategies; and (2) extension with stakeholders to develop and implement management interventions appropriate for different socioeconomic and cultural contexts. This approach will reduce numbers of containers and adult mosquitoes by promoting lasting behavior change. It will reduce the use of temporary and ineffective adulticides. Mosquito populations and knowledge, attitudes, and practices of residents in Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD will be compared between education-intervention and non-intervention settings using entomological and social surveys in a Before-After-Control-Intervention design. Focus groups and interviews will evaluate individual materials and strategies and inform development of improved methods. Materials, workshops, and publications will disseminate knowledge to audiences to broaden the implementation of successful methods. This project addresses the priorities of the NEIPM's Community/Public Health IPM working group, which include using diverse media to educate the public on implementing IPM in their homes and landscapes, and developing creative tools for measuring the impact of public education related to IPM practices in residential settings on changes in awareness and behaviors of target audiences.
Objectives: The overall goal of this project is to advance community-based Ae. albopictus management through two main objectives: Objective 1 (Research): Evaluate the efficacy of community-based education and "citizen scientist" involvement to control Ae. albopictus in urban communities that vary in cultural and socioeconomic background. To achieve this objective we will address three research goals: (1) Quantify Ae. albopictus exposure in individual households/yards and area-wide neighborhood blocks. We will test the hypothesis that residents of varying socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds are exposed to different baseline levels of Ae. albopictus. We will also evaluate seasonal variation of Ae. albopictus population abundances at each of these scales; (2) Test the hypothesis that socioeconomic and culture status affects knowledge of Ae. albopictus ecology, mosquito-borne disease, and mosquito-breeding and mosquito-bite prevention practices. We will also evaluate whether "correct" knowledge and perceptions correspond to the use of practices that prevent mosquito breeding and biting; and (3) Test the hypothesis that improved community education and citizen scientist involvement will improve neighborhood engagement with control practices and ultimately reduce exposure to Ae. albopictus. Objective 2 (Extension): Improve public knowledge of Ae. albopictus and promote lasting behavioral changes to minimize its threat among urban communities that vary in cultural and socioeconomic background. To achieve this objective we will pursue 4 extension goals: (1) Establish a Washington DC-Baltimore City IPM Steering Committee to help project personnel better integrate research methods and findings into extension programs; (2) Develop and implement improved extension programs with local community groups and agencies to create citizen scientists that drive community-based IPM; (3) Work with on-the-ground efforts and partners in the Northeast region and greater US to disseminate findings from this project and seed community-involvement strategies in other cities; and (4) Build high-school and undergraduate student knowledge and awareness of IPM strategies through internships, opportunities to collect data and discuss results with mentoring scientists, and the development of innovative coursework. Proposal |
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Interim Report: Aug-31-2012 |
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Impacts Investigators developed knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) questionnaires and mosquito sampling protocols for household studies in both Washington DC and Baltimore MD, and mosquito-control education materials (flyers, fridge magnet, calendar, note pad) for passive interventions in Washington DC. The theme for the tested passive education strategy is tip n trash , which focused on educating residents to eliminate standing water in their yards. A website (http://enst.umd.edu/tipntrash/index.cfm) was developed for the project and linked to PI Leisnhams University of Maryland webpage. Co-PI Biehler used interviews and focus groups with twenty-one members of treatment households to evaluate education materials and dissemination methods. Co-PI Biehler also sought information about additional support or information needed by households to successfully control mosquitoes and understand the risks of mosquito-borne disease. Co-PI LaDeau worked with leaders in the Franklin Square and Union Square Community Associations, Baltimore MD, to introduce the project that will test effectiveness of an active citizen science education strategy. Co-PI Hager kept the broader Watershed 263 Advisory group informed. The project was described in local newsletters and through email lists. Investigators regularly answered questions from residents as the sampled in Washington and Baltimore. Due to the nature of the studys Before-After-Control-Intervention-design, investigators did not offer information unless asked so that the control treatments are not contaminated. PIs Leisnham, LaDeau and Biehler presented talks related to the project at a multi-disciplinary session about vectors at the American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting in February 2012 in New York City, NY. PI Leisnham presented a talk to stakeholders at the Mid-Atlantic Zoonotic and Vector-borne Inter-agency group in March 2012. External individuals have been indentified to serve on the project advisory group to help the dissemination of information to stakeholders. |
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Outcomes Coupled questionnaires and mosquito surveys were administered to 250 households in Washington DC to test baseline relationships between resident demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices, and mosquito infestation. The invasive mosquitoes Aedes albopictus and Cx. pipiens were the most common mosquitoes collected, constituting over 90% of all individuals. We found that respondents who reported practicing source reduction had lower numbers of pupae-positive containers and Culex pipiens-positive containers, but not Aedes albopictus-positive containers or water-holding containers, in their yards. When controlling for numbers of water-holding containers in statistical models, residents who reported source reduction had lower numbers of A. albopictus-positive containers in addition to numbers of pupae-positive containers and C. pipiens-positive containers. We concluded that mosquito-related education may help promote community-based container management as part of integrated mosquito management programs, particularly in middle and low socio-economic status neighborhoods that had lower knowledge and high motivation. These baseline findings have been submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. Randomly selected intervention households (approximately half of total households) received mosquito-control education materials (flyers, fridge magnet, calendar, note pad) and been resampled with control households in 2011 and 2012 to test effects of a passive education strategy. Preliminary results from focus groups and interviews of intervention residents (total 21 participants) suggest they spend more time indoors due to mosquito infestation, refraining from recreation around their neighborhoods. Residents of all income levels expressed concern about the likelihood of community members to organize mosquito control. In a separate study, we are currently collecting baseline social and mosquito data in Baltimore where selected study blocks will undergo a citizen-science active intervention. In early summer, 82% of containers from our lower socio-economic status neighborhood (Franklin Square) contained mosquito larvae as compared to only 28% of samples from our higher socio-economic status neighborhood (Union Square). In late July, this percentage fell to 66% in Franklin Square but rose to 38% in Union Square. Additionally, initial surveys of adult mosquitoes suggests higher biting populations in Union Square versus Franklin Square by late July. These results both support our initial predictions that the abundant garbage in our lower socio-economic status neighborhood is an important habitat for mosquito breeding. However, our results also suggest an important role for larger, more permanent breeding habitats associated with larger biting adult populations by mid-summer. Many of the garbage containers (e.g., cups, tires) that were active larval habitat in June were dry by late July. However, gardens and yard care were more likely to maintain larval habitat (e.g., planters, yard furniture/ornaments) during the hottest part of the summer. |
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Final Report: |
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Impacts The main target audiences of this project have been community-members, students, scientists, and pest control professionals. Community members in four neighborhoods in Baltimore MD and six neighborhoods in Washington DC were a part of this study. Residents were exposed to passive print education in Washington DC in 2011 and 2012, and active education in Baltimore MD in 2013 and 2014. Three of the four study neighborhoods in Baltimore and two of the six study neighborhoods in Washington DC are predominantly composed of racial and ethnic minorities as well as socially, economically, or educationally disadvantaged. Gender and ethnically diverse graduate and undergraduate college students have been given formal classroom instruction (e.g., lecture) and experiential learning activities (e.g., mosquito data collection and analyses) as part of courses at University of Maryland College Park. Graduate, undergraduate, and high school students have also been involved directly in administering knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) questionnaires, sampling larval and adult mosquitoes, and identifying specimens in the laboratory. Scientists and pest control professional have been presented findings from the project at presentations at scientific and professional meetings or as invited talks. Papers: LaDeau, S.L., B.F. Allan, P.T. Leisnham, M.Z. Levy. In Review. The ecological foundations of transmission potential and vector-borne disease in urban landscapes. Functional Ecology. LaDeau, S., P.T. Leisnham , D. Biehler, D. Bodner. 2013. The (re)emergence of mosquito-borne disease in temperate cities: Managing mosquitoes in socioeconomically diverse landscapes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: 10, 1505-1526; DOI:10.3390/ijerph10041505. Bodner, D., S.L. LaDeau, D. Biehler, N. Kirchoff, P.T. Leisnham. Pending. The Effectiveness of a Passive Education Intervention in Washington, DC to Reduce Urban Mosquito Infestation through Improved Resident-Based Management. To be submitted to Journal of Pest Management, Fall 2014. Biehler, D., Leisnham, P., LaDeau, S., Bodner, D. Pending. Knowing nature and community through mosquitoes: Lay vector ecologies as guides for participation in management. To be submitted to Environment and Planning A, Fall 2014. Community outreach outputs: LaDeau, S. 2012. Tiger Mosquito Study: There is a new mosquito in town. In Watershed News, Watershed 263 Issue 2 LaDeau, S. 2012. There is a new mosquito in town. In Hello Franklin Square Vol 3 Issue 6 Educational Aids or Curricula: Print education materials (flyers, calendar, fridge magnet, and notepad) were distributed to each household in Washington DC (240 households; ~960 residents). An educational Powerpoint presentation and extension flyer was produced for a community retreat in Baltimore. This retreat was attended ~20 residents In collaboration with another project (NSF-Couple Natural Human Systems Program - DEB-1211797), a website was produced as a supplemental tool for community participants http://baltimoremosquitoes.weebly.com). It worked to both recruit new members and inform existing citizen scientists. Tools for data entry and visualization are included as well as upcoming project events are listed, project goals are laid out, informative pictures and mosquito information is dispensed and both block leader and teacher resources are found on this site. A video was created to teach any age the basics of mosquito biology and educate and empower them to take small actions to reduce pests, such as throwing away trash. Theses: Bodner, D. The effectiveness of resident-based mosquito control through changes in knowledge and behavior along a socioeconomic gradient. MS Thesis. University of Maryland. Conference presentations and other talks/posters: Bodner, D., D. P.T. Leisnham. 2014. The effectiveness of education materials at reducing urban mosquitoes by improving resident-based management. Mid-Atlantic Zoonotic and Vector-borne Inter-agency group meeting. Annapolis, MD. Leisnham, P.T. 2014. Socio-ecological approaches to mosquito control: Framing mosquitoes within the broader context of human well-being. Invited presentation. 2014 Mid-Atlantic Mosquito Control Conference. Cambridge, MD. Biehler, D. 2013. Knowing nature and community through mosquitoes: Lay vector ecologies as guides for participation in management. Mid-Atlantic Zoonotic and Vector-borne Inter-agency group meeting. Annapolis, MD. Leisnham, P.T. 2014. Socio-ecological approaches to mosquito control: Framing mosquitoes within the broader context of human well-being. 2014 Mid-Atlantic Mosquito Control Conference. Cambridge, MD. Leisnham, P.T. 2014. The invasion of urban mosquitoes in the northeastern United States: Exploring social and ecological processes. Department of Entomology. University of Maryland, MD. Leisnham, P.T. 2014. Socio-Ecological Approaches to Human Health: From Miniscule Mosquitoes to Whopping Watersheds. Department of Environmental Science and Technology. University of Maryland, MD. Leisnham, P.T. 2013. Management of the Asian tiger mosquito (ATM) among socioeconomically diverse urban neighborhoods through community-based education and involvement. Northeastern Integrated Pest Management Center Advisory Board Annual Meeting. University of Maryland. College Park, MD. Biehler, D. 2013. Knowing nature and community through mosquitoes: Lay vector ecologies as guides for participation in management. Northeastern Integrated Pest Management Center Advisory Board Annual Meeting. University of Maryland. College Park, MD. Leisnham, P.T., Z.R. Dowling*, P.A. Armbruster, M. DeCotiis*, J. Mottley*, S. LaDeau. 2013. Socioecological approaches to resident-based mosquito management: Relating resident knowledge, attitudes, and practices to mosquito ecology. The 6th International Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology: Education and Research. Arlington, VA. Talk. Leisnham, P.T., D. Bodner*, S.L. LaDeau, D. Biehler. 2013. Evaluating the effectiveness of education materials at reducing urban mosquitoes by improving resident-based management. Entomological Society of America 61st Annual Meeting. Austin, TX. Leisnham, P.T. 2013. Socioecological approaches to human health: Disease-vector mosquitoes in urban landscapes. Rotary International College Park Chapter. Greenbelt, MD. Leisnham P.T., Dowling, Z.R., Armbruster, P.A., DeCotiis, M., Mottley, J. LaDeau S. 2013. Socioeconomic status affects larval mosquito habitat infestation: Implications for resident-based mosquito management. Invited Talk. International Congress of Insect Reproduction and Development. Detroit, MI. Leisnham, P. T. 2013. Socio-ecological approaches to human health: From minute mosquitoes to whole watersheds. Invited Seminar. Chesapeake Biological Laboratory. Solomons Island, MD. Leisnham, P.T. 2012. Global environmental change, invasive mosquitoes, and public health. Invited Seminar. Brazilian Student Exchange Program in Ecology and Natural Resources Management. (College Park, MD). LaDeau, S.L., P.T. Leisnham, and D. Biehler. 2012. What are the specific drivers of mosquito exposure in Baltimore, MD. Baltimore Long-Term Ecosystem study Annual Meeting. Catonsville, MD. Leisnham P.T., Dowling, Z.R., Armbruster, P.A., LaDeau S. 2012. Linking Resident Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regarding Mosquitoes to Socioeconomic Factors and Vector Control. American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting. New York City, NY. LaDeau, S. 2012. Ecological complexity and disease vectors: Phenology and composition of urban mosquito communities in Baltimore. Association of Geographers Annual Meeting. New York City, NY. Biehler, D. 2012. Retreating indoors? Returning to vigilance? Domestic landscapes, citizens, and insect pests in 1900 and today. Association of Geographers Annual Meeting. New York City, NY. Dowling, Z.R., Armbruster, P.A., LaDeau S., Leisnham P.T. 2011. Linking resident knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding mosquitoes to socioeconomic factors and vector control. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting. Reno, NV. Dowling, Z.R., Armbruster, P.A., Leisnham, P T. 2011. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding mosquitoes to socioeconomic factors and vector control. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting. Austin, TX. |
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Outcomes Research Outcomes: Research addressing Objectives 1 and 2, aimed at measuring baseline mosquito infestation among socio-economically diverse neighborhoods, was addressed in Year 1 and published (Dowling et al. 2013. EcoHealth 10:36-47; LaDeau et al. 2013. Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 10: 1505-1526). It found that respondents who reported practicing source reduction had lower numbers of A. albopictus-positive containers in addition to numbers of pupae-positive containers and C. pipiens-positive containers (Dowling et al. 2013). When comparing mosquito ecology in 2012 among study neighborhoods in Washington DC and Baltimore MD, clear associations with socioeconomic status were evident. Both Culex and Aedes pupae were more likely to be sampled in neighborhoods categorized as being below the median income level in each city and Aedes pupae density was also greater in container habitats found in these lower income neighborhoods (LaDeau et al. 2013). We conclude that mosquito-related education may help promote community-based container management as part of integrated mosquito management programs, particularly in middle and low socio-economic status neighborhoods that had lower knowledge, high motivation, and higher mosquito infestation. Half of the 240 study households analyzed in Year 1 were given mosquito-control education materials as a passive intervention, and results from this intervention group were compared with control households in 2011 and 2012. Major findings of the print education intervention included: 1. Education materials were insufficient to motivate residents to reduce water-holding containers and instead were associated with decreased concern of mosquito-borne diseases; 2. Source reduction (e.g., eliminating standing water, applying mosquito dunks) adoption by residents that had previously not practiced it was predicted by improvements in knowledge and our print education intervention (independent of each other), but source reduction adoption was not associated with reduced water-holding containers; 3. Household reductions in containers were predicted by an interaction between baseline container numbers in 2010 and education intervention, with un-expectantly greater container reductions in control vs. intervention households, particularly among households had high numbers of baseline containers; 4. Reductions in containers were associated with reductions in household Ae. albopictus abundance but not household Cx. pipiens abundance; 5. These results suggest that container reductions are associated with mosquito reductions, but that print education materials may be ineffective at reducing containers and mosquito development, and instead have undesirable impacts. It is possible print education materials portray a simplistic message that encourage residents to manage obvious container habitats at the expense of searching for and controlling more cryptic containers. Accompanying focus group data from intervention residents in Washington DC (total 21 participants) was analyzed in Year 3. The findings from focus groups suggest that residents spend more time indoors due to mosquito infestation and refrain from recreation around their neighborhoods. Residents of all income levels expressed concern about the likelihood of community members to organize mosquito control. Residents who participated in neighborhood email discussion lists reported a greater level of engagement and trust in their neighbors regarding environmental issues than residents who did not participate in such email discussion lists. Building on the work described above, active education programs were established in Baltimore MD in 2013 and 2014 as part of the partnering extension project. Three clusters of 3-4 city blocks in the southwest Baltimore neighborhood of Franklin Square were compared to three control block clusters in neighboring Union Square. Active education programs consisted of disseminating information in community newsletters; staffing information tables at neighborhood events; holding education workshops and disseminating project results; bidirectional communication with residents enrolled in a citizen science program; and the recruitment of community representatives that accompanied our team during mosquito sampling and disseminated information to fellow residents. One of the city blocks that received active education included an intensive and focused container clean-up and maintenance intervention as part of a program with youth of a local church. These activities are detailed below. Mosquito variables were measured between city blocks that received targeted trash-clean up (intervention) vs. control blocks within Franklin Square neighborhood before (2012) and after (2013, 2014) the intervention; and between active education blocks (Franklin Square) vs. control blocks (Union Square) longitudinally from 2012, through 2013, to 2014. Major findings of these interventions included: 1. The block that was adopted by the youth group had reduced mosquito-positive container habitat relative to other blocks in the same neighborhood during 2013 and 2014. 2. There were no differences in changing container habitat over the duration of the study between city blocks that had active education vs. those with no active education. 3. These findings suggest evidence that active education programs can reduce mosquito infestation in urban areas. Results are less clear at the neighborhood scale, possibly indicating that for an education program to be effective, it has to be targeted and intensive. Concurrent larval and adult sampling in Baltimore MD in 2013 was analyzed to assess the spatial-temporal relationships between larval breeding and human exposure to biting adults. Major findings of larval and adult sampling included: 1. Aedes albopictus was the most abundant adult (88%) and larval (54%) species collected across all neighborhoods and sample dates; 2. When averaging across neighborhoods, mean adult mosquito abundance per trap night was not associated with mean household abundances of larval or pupae (the penultimate stage before adulthood) among blocks; 3. However, relationships of larval and adult abundances were apparent within neighborhoods and varied between them. Two neighborhoods had a negative relationship between larval and adult abundances whereas two neighborhoods had a positive relationship. 4. These results indicate that while larval development and adult abundance are related, mosquito control professionals need to consider differences among neighborhoods. The composition of larval (e.g., container types, nutrients) and adult (e.g., vegetation, resting sites, hosts) habitats can vary among neighborhoods, and if different social or ecological factors regulate larval vs. adult habitats, larval and adult abundances may become decoupled. Although source reduction may reduce regional mosquito habitat and adult production, future research needs to examine socio-ecological processes that may differentially affect immature vs. adult habitats to better understand and map disease risks. Extension Outcomes: Under Objective 1, in Year 1, a Washington-Baltimore City IPM Steering Committee consisting of 5 IPM professionals was established to help advise on project activities. Project PIs interacted with the group throughout the project duration, mainly by email, after an initial meeting was held. In-person interactions between group members occurred at occasional (monthly- bimonthly) intervals coinciding with Mid-Atlantic Arbovirus and Zoonotic Vector-borne Inter-agency group meetings. In Years 1 and 2, print education materials (flyers, calendar, fridge magnet, and notepad) were distributed to 120 households in Washington DC as part of "tip n' trash" themed outreach which focused on educating residents to eliminate standing water in their yards. Results from the partnering research project are described above, and support the goals and objectives of the extension component of this project, which focused on building active education programs to foster resident-based mosquito management. Under Objective 2, print education materials were distributed to each control household in Washington DC (120 households; approximately 480 residents) that had not previously received materials as part of our evaluated intervention. All households in the study (240) were also mailed a brief summary of the numbers of containers and mosquitoes collected on their yard. Under Objective 2, PIs worked with UMBC undergraduate students to lead mosquito and pest awareness activities in in Franklin Square neighborhood in Baltimore in 2013 and 2014. Approximately 50 elementary and middle-school students participated in this program each year (~100 total). In collaboration with another project (NSF-Couple Natural Human Systems Program - DEB-1211797), targeted curricula was designed for the program, which was delivered by UMBC student leaders. Summer youth participants maintained a communal garden in an abandoned lot and conducted routine mosquito surveys/trash removal. Pre- and post-surveys detected increased knowledge and attitudes towards mosquito management among youth. The partnering research project showed that this intensive active education citizen science programs led to reductions in mosquito habitat and infestation. Under Objective 2, all project PIs led a Community Retreat in Franklin Square neighborhood in Baltimore where the projects goals and 2013 results were shared. Participants brainstormed a list of organizations and events the PIs should be involved with to teach/share/help with environmental justice activities. Participants were introduced to several opportunities for engagement with citizen science activities. Under Objective 2, and in collaboration with another project (NSF-Couple Natural Human Systems Program - DEB-1211797), a Community Representative from each Neighborhood Association in our Baltimore study area was recruited to work directly with our research team and bridge our efforts with ongoing needs and activities in each neighborhood. PIs and students also disseminated information on mosquitoes at a snacks, crafts, and data collection booth at five outreach events. July 2014 Union Square Block Party; July 2014 No Boundaries Coalition Block Party; August 2014 National Night Out Event Harlem Park; August 2014 Franklin Square Saratoga Avenue Block Party; August 2014 Hollins Market Back-to-School Day. It is estimated that information was shared with an average of ~30 families at per event (~150 families total). Under Objective 3, ~100 local pest control professionals were presented findings of this project at two professional meetings (2014 mid-Atlantic Mosquito Control Association Annual meeting and the mid-Atlantic Arbovirus and Zoonotic and Vector-borne Inter-agency group meeting, 2014) and at the 2013 Northeastern Integrated Pest Management Center Advisory Board Annual Meeting. Under Objective 3, Leisnham presented findings from the study to 22 people of the College Park Chapter of Rotary International. Under Objective 3, PIs led a group of journalists participating in the Logan Science Journalism Program at MBL in hands-on experience in urban ecology (On May 29-30, 2014). Journalists participated in mapping and sampling larval mosquito habitat across two city blocks in our focal Franklin Square neighborhood. Under Objective 4, student knowledge and awareness of IPM strategies were advanced. PI Leisnhams graduate class ENST689R: Invasion Ecology (10 students) and undergraduate class ENST436: Emerging Environmental Threats (26 students), were given formal classroom instruction (e.g., lecture) and experiential learning activities (e.g., mosquito data collection and analyses) under this project. Four graduate and 12 undergraduate students were also involved directly in administering knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) questionnaires, sampling larval and adult mosquitoes, and identifying specimens in the laboratory. |
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