While the overall annual incidence of tuberculosis (TB) on the Island of Montreal has been stable at 10 per 100,000 in recent years, incidence varies tremendously by country of birth and by neighbourhood. It is not clear how much of this variation reflects population distribution, and how much reflects localized risk factors and/or local transmission. Precise mapping and spatial statistical analysis allowed for the identification of two types of TB concentrations: hotspots---raw concentrations of cases, and high-incidence zones---where TB incidence significantly exceeds the rate expected. The high-incidence zones were not fully explained by known risk factors for TB, such as high population densities or low incomes, when aggregated at the census tract level. The results were linked with Mycobacterium tuberculosis genotyping data to search for evidence of recent transmission. We found that there is substantial aggregation of TB in Montreal, beyond the concentration of the foreign-born as a group, and evidence of recent transmission contributing to high incidence was uncovered in one area of the city.

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Urbanization is known to have a negative impact on biodiversity. However, it is possible to increase bird species richness in cities through local actions such as increasing vegetation density and diversity. My first objective was to compare bird density and diversity on the island of Montreal among four urban habitat types: low-density and medium-density residential sectors, and residential and natural parks. A second objective was to determine the presence of bird species assemblages within these four urban habitats and a third was to explore associative relationships among six mainly shrub-nesting bird species and the vegetation they use. Point counts were conducted in each of 103 locations. Environmental variables measured consisted of the type (coniferous versus deciduous), density and height of vegetation within each 1 ha sector. Results revealed a decrease in bird abundance from medium-density residential habitats, residential park, low density residential habitats to natural parks and an increase in diversity from medium density residential habitats, low density residential habitats, residential parks to natural parks. Bird assemblages were determined through correspondence analysis. Most bird species were associated with at least one type of urban habitat. Associations between bird species and vegetation were measured through canonical correspondence analysis. The six focal species associated with shrubs demonstrated different levels of association with different habitat variables.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.