Data for Modeling the potential distribution of Wesselsbron, Sindbis, and Middelburg viruses and their vectors in Africa under future climatic and land-use changes

This dataset comprises ecological variables and species presence points used to model the current and future potential distribution of Wesselsbron, Sindbis, and Middelburg viruses and five mosquito vectors (Aedes circumluteolus, Aedes mcintoshi, Culex univittatus, Culex pipiens and Mansonia Africana). Ecological data include 19 Bioclimatic variables, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, Built-Up areas, Settlement model grid, Human population, Forested areas, Livestock density, and Croplands. Two time periods were selected, current (reference year 2015) and future (2021 – 2040); current bioclimatic comprised data collected over 1970 – 2000. For the future, we utilized the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs), which are projections of future greenhouse gas emissions and climate. We chose SSP2-4.5 for moderate and SSP5-8.5 for severe conditions. Based on the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6, we selected two Global Climate Models (GCM), IPSL - CM6A - LR and HadGEM - GC31 – LL. Therefore, per GCM, we extracted ecological data for the two SSPs for the period 2021 – 2040. Presence points comprise coordinates of locations of samples from which the species were previously identified.