Research Focus
We use field and laboratory studies and biodiversity collections to investigate the responses of insects and plankton to climate and habitat change. Our work is grounded in ecological and evolutionary theory and has applications to conservation biology, healthy ecosystems, and urban biodiversity.
Current Members
Michelle Tseng: PI, Departments of Botany and Zoology; Biodiversity Research Centre;
Sean Chung: NSERC undergraduate researcher & Biology honours student - Competition in urban aquatic invertebrates
Wendy Frankel: Biology Honours Student: Effect of cardenolides and temperature on monarch colouration (collaboration with Micah Freedman);
Devlin Grewal: MSc student (Botany): Urban trees & the biodiversity they support, Campus Trees, Insects, and Microbes project link;
Katie Gyte: MSc student (Botany): Warming temperatures and algal fat and lipid production;
Natasha Klasios: PhD candidate (Zoology) Ecology of microplastics; related website: Early career researchers microplastics working group;
Oliver McDermott: NSERC undergraduate researcher - Insect diversity in urban golf courses
Julie Sieg: NSERC undergraduate researcher - Resurvey of milkweed in the Okanagan/Interior & Machine learning for butterfly-plant associations
Markus Thormeyer: PhD student (Zoology), Urban mosquito ecology and evolution
Active Research Questions
How do warming temperatures affect nutrient availability and transfer in freshwater ecosystems;
What are the ecological, evolutionary, and immunological effects of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems?
How do we create urban green spaces that maximize insect diversity and minimize the negative effects of climate change? Campus trees project
How does urbanization affect species interactions in aquatic ecosystems? Urban ponds
Butterfly-plant associations and phenology in Canada; collaboration with the David Suzuki Foundation; related website: BIMBY
Teaching
BIOL230 - Fundamentals of Ecology (2024-25 spring term)
BIOL411/APBI427 - Insect Ecology (not offered in 2024-2025)
BOTA501 - Seminar in Botany (2024-2025)
BIOL548M - Fundamentals of Population Ecology (2024-2025; Graduate Module)
Teaching Philosophy
UBC undergrads are phenomenal people with diverse backgrounds, cultures, and lived experiences. My goal as an instructor is to provide students with the knowledge and tools needed to be critical thinkers in university and in post-graduate life. I bridge classical examples with new research. I am committed to a knowledgeable, flexible, inclusive, and fair classroom. I teach fundamental concepts, and apply these concepts to real-world situations. I am an advocate of hands-on research at all levels of undergraduate education.
Land Acknowledgement
The UBC Vancouver campus is situated within the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam). We recognize and value the thousands of years of Indigenous land and biodiversity stewardship. We conduct our research with an open and respectful mind and understand that western approaches to biodiversity science are one approach of many that strive to understand the natural world around us.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
The Tseng lab is a safe, supportive, and welcoming space for people of all genders, races, ethnicities, and LGBTQIA+. We welcome and support curious, self-motivated, kind, and respectful students and scientists. Hate, bigotry, discrimination, and racism of any kind are not tolerated. As UBC students and researchers we have considerable privilege and we strive towards a thriving, inclusive, diverse, and productive lab group.
Select publications (Google Scholar Profile) Please email if you would like a pdf
Gicole, S*., A. Dimitriou*, N. Klasios^, and M. Tseng. 2024. Biodegradation of medical face masks by a widespread beetle species. Submitted May 2024
Klasios, N. A. Birch, A.M. Murillo, and M. Tseng. 2024. Warming temperatures exacerbate effects of microplastics on a widespread zooplankton species. Environmental Pollution 349:123918. (open access) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123918
Kim, J.O, A. Dimitriou, I. Forster, and M. Tseng. 2024. Heatwave-mediated decreases in phytoplankton quality negatively affect zooplankton productivity. Functional Ecology 34(8): 778-791 (open access) https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.14530
Klasios, N, J.O. Kim, and M. Tseng. 2024. No effect of realistic concentrations of polyester microplastic fibers on freshwater zooplankton communities. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 43(2): 418-428. (open access) https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5797
Ogushi, Sun, BIOL411/ABPI427 and M. Tseng. 2024 Lepidoptera species richness and community composition in urban street trees. Canadian Journal of Zoology.. (BIOL411/APBI427 2023 class project), dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2023-0150. pdf
Klasios, N. and M. Tseng. 2023. Microplastics in subsurface water and zooplankton from eight lakes in British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. Link pdf
Thormeyer, M. and M. Tseng. 2023. No effect of realistic microplastic exposure on growth and development of wild-caught Culex (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes. Journal of Medical Entomology Link pdf
Hwo, W, S. Deedes-Vincke, A. Wong, and M. Tseng 2022. Butterflies in my backyard - The Great BC Butterfly Search. David Suzuki Foundation Report. link
Tseng, M and 27 coauthors*. 2022. Effects of temperature on monarch caterpillar colour variation in nature. Insect Conservation and Diversity. DOI: 10.1111/ICAD.12608 (BIOL411/APBI427 2022 class project) pdf
Büyükyilmaz, E*. and M. Tseng. 2022. Developmental temperature predicts body size, flight, and pollen load in a widespread butterfly. Ecological Entomology. 47:872-882 (Honours Thesis) pdf; UBC news release link
Tseng, M., C. M. Di Filippo, M. Fung*, J.O. Kim*, I.P. Forster, and Y. Zhou*. 2021 Cascading effects of warming in a freshwater community. Functional Ecology. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13752. pdf (combo MSc, directed studies & NSERC USRA project)
Bartlett, B., J. Fortin, M. B. Kantar, M. Tseng, and Z. Mehrabi. 2021. Digital technology helps remove gender bias in academia. Scientometrics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-021-03911-4. pdf
Tseng, M., R. El-Sabaawi, M. B. Kantar, J. H. Pantel, D. S. Srivastava, and J. Ware. 2020. Strategies and support for Black, Indigenous, and people of colour in ecology and evolutionary biology. Nature Ecology & Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-020-1252-0, https://rdcu.be/b5tDc
Tseng, M., E. Yangel*, and A. Zhou*. 2019. Herbivory alters thermal responses of algae. Journal of Plankton Research. 41(5): 641-649 (Directed Studies)
Tseng, M., J. Bernhardt, and A. Chila*. 2019. Species interactions mediate thermal evolution. Evolutionary Applications. link
Tseng, M. and S. Soleimani Pari*. 2019. Body size explains interspecific variation in latitude-size relationships in geographically widespread beetle species. Ecological Entomology. 44: 151-156. DOI: 10.1111/een.12684. (Directed Studies)
Tseng, M., K. M. Kaur*, S. Soleimani Pari*, K. Sarai, D. Chan, C.H. Yao, P. Porto, A. Toor, H.S. Toor, and K. Fograscher. 2018. Decreases in beetle body size linked to climate change and warming temperatures. Journal of Animal Ecology. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12789 *co-second author, (class project). Press coverage of this paper: Quirks and Quarks; Science; CBC; Phys.org
Tseng M., and M. I. O’Connor. 2015. Predators modify the evolutionary response of prey to temperature change. Biology Letters. 11: 20150798. (sup mat), Press: UBC news, Global BC
Lab alumni
MSc: Sophia Fan (2024), Jihyun Kim (2022), Carla Di Filippo (2020)
Honours: Savi Raghuraman (2023), Erez Büyükyilmaz (2022), Kephra Becket (2018)
NSERC USRA/ UBC SURE: Alexandre Beauchemin, Mahan Rafieenaini (2022), Ernest Liang (2022), Madeline Fung (2019)
Directed Studies: Nicole Graham (2023), Sunny Gong (2022), Ali Dimitriou (2021), Yi Lin Zhou (2021), Jihyun Kim (2019), Evgeniya Yangel (2018), Casey Patmore (2018), Sina Soliemani Pari (2017), Allison Pritchard (2017)
We use field and laboratory studies and biodiversity collections to investigate the responses of insects and plankton to climate and habitat change. Our work is grounded in ecological and evolutionary theory and has applications to conservation biology, healthy ecosystems, and urban biodiversity.
Current Members
Michelle Tseng: PI, Departments of Botany and Zoology; Biodiversity Research Centre;
Sean Chung: NSERC undergraduate researcher & Biology honours student - Competition in urban aquatic invertebrates
Wendy Frankel: Biology Honours Student: Effect of cardenolides and temperature on monarch colouration (collaboration with Micah Freedman);
Devlin Grewal: MSc student (Botany): Urban trees & the biodiversity they support, Campus Trees, Insects, and Microbes project link;
Katie Gyte: MSc student (Botany): Warming temperatures and algal fat and lipid production;
Natasha Klasios: PhD candidate (Zoology) Ecology of microplastics; related website: Early career researchers microplastics working group;
Oliver McDermott: NSERC undergraduate researcher - Insect diversity in urban golf courses
Julie Sieg: NSERC undergraduate researcher - Resurvey of milkweed in the Okanagan/Interior & Machine learning for butterfly-plant associations
Markus Thormeyer: PhD student (Zoology), Urban mosquito ecology and evolution
Active Research Questions
How do warming temperatures affect nutrient availability and transfer in freshwater ecosystems;
What are the ecological, evolutionary, and immunological effects of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems?
How do we create urban green spaces that maximize insect diversity and minimize the negative effects of climate change? Campus trees project
How does urbanization affect species interactions in aquatic ecosystems? Urban ponds
Butterfly-plant associations and phenology in Canada; collaboration with the David Suzuki Foundation; related website: BIMBY
Teaching
BIOL230 - Fundamentals of Ecology (2024-25 spring term)
BIOL411/APBI427 - Insect Ecology (not offered in 2024-2025)
BOTA501 - Seminar in Botany (2024-2025)
BIOL548M - Fundamentals of Population Ecology (2024-2025; Graduate Module)
Teaching Philosophy
UBC undergrads are phenomenal people with diverse backgrounds, cultures, and lived experiences. My goal as an instructor is to provide students with the knowledge and tools needed to be critical thinkers in university and in post-graduate life. I bridge classical examples with new research. I am committed to a knowledgeable, flexible, inclusive, and fair classroom. I teach fundamental concepts, and apply these concepts to real-world situations. I am an advocate of hands-on research at all levels of undergraduate education.
Land Acknowledgement
The UBC Vancouver campus is situated within the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam). We recognize and value the thousands of years of Indigenous land and biodiversity stewardship. We conduct our research with an open and respectful mind and understand that western approaches to biodiversity science are one approach of many that strive to understand the natural world around us.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
The Tseng lab is a safe, supportive, and welcoming space for people of all genders, races, ethnicities, and LGBTQIA+. We welcome and support curious, self-motivated, kind, and respectful students and scientists. Hate, bigotry, discrimination, and racism of any kind are not tolerated. As UBC students and researchers we have considerable privilege and we strive towards a thriving, inclusive, diverse, and productive lab group.
Select publications (Google Scholar Profile) Please email if you would like a pdf
Gicole, S*., A. Dimitriou*, N. Klasios^, and M. Tseng. 2024. Biodegradation of medical face masks by a widespread beetle species. Submitted May 2024
Klasios, N. A. Birch, A.M. Murillo, and M. Tseng. 2024. Warming temperatures exacerbate effects of microplastics on a widespread zooplankton species. Environmental Pollution 349:123918. (open access) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123918
Kim, J.O, A. Dimitriou, I. Forster, and M. Tseng. 2024. Heatwave-mediated decreases in phytoplankton quality negatively affect zooplankton productivity. Functional Ecology 34(8): 778-791 (open access) https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.14530
Klasios, N, J.O. Kim, and M. Tseng. 2024. No effect of realistic concentrations of polyester microplastic fibers on freshwater zooplankton communities. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 43(2): 418-428. (open access) https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5797
Ogushi, Sun, BIOL411/ABPI427 and M. Tseng. 2024 Lepidoptera species richness and community composition in urban street trees. Canadian Journal of Zoology.. (BIOL411/APBI427 2023 class project), dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2023-0150. pdf
Klasios, N. and M. Tseng. 2023. Microplastics in subsurface water and zooplankton from eight lakes in British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. Link pdf
Thormeyer, M. and M. Tseng. 2023. No effect of realistic microplastic exposure on growth and development of wild-caught Culex (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes. Journal of Medical Entomology Link pdf
Hwo, W, S. Deedes-Vincke, A. Wong, and M. Tseng 2022. Butterflies in my backyard - The Great BC Butterfly Search. David Suzuki Foundation Report. link
Tseng, M and 27 coauthors*. 2022. Effects of temperature on monarch caterpillar colour variation in nature. Insect Conservation and Diversity. DOI: 10.1111/ICAD.12608 (BIOL411/APBI427 2022 class project) pdf
Büyükyilmaz, E*. and M. Tseng. 2022. Developmental temperature predicts body size, flight, and pollen load in a widespread butterfly. Ecological Entomology. 47:872-882 (Honours Thesis) pdf; UBC news release link
Tseng, M., C. M. Di Filippo, M. Fung*, J.O. Kim*, I.P. Forster, and Y. Zhou*. 2021 Cascading effects of warming in a freshwater community. Functional Ecology. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13752. pdf (combo MSc, directed studies & NSERC USRA project)
Bartlett, B., J. Fortin, M. B. Kantar, M. Tseng, and Z. Mehrabi. 2021. Digital technology helps remove gender bias in academia. Scientometrics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-021-03911-4. pdf
Tseng, M., R. El-Sabaawi, M. B. Kantar, J. H. Pantel, D. S. Srivastava, and J. Ware. 2020. Strategies and support for Black, Indigenous, and people of colour in ecology and evolutionary biology. Nature Ecology & Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-020-1252-0, https://rdcu.be/b5tDc
Tseng, M., E. Yangel*, and A. Zhou*. 2019. Herbivory alters thermal responses of algae. Journal of Plankton Research. 41(5): 641-649 (Directed Studies)
Tseng, M., J. Bernhardt, and A. Chila*. 2019. Species interactions mediate thermal evolution. Evolutionary Applications. link
Tseng, M. and S. Soleimani Pari*. 2019. Body size explains interspecific variation in latitude-size relationships in geographically widespread beetle species. Ecological Entomology. 44: 151-156. DOI: 10.1111/een.12684. (Directed Studies)
Tseng, M., K. M. Kaur*, S. Soleimani Pari*, K. Sarai, D. Chan, C.H. Yao, P. Porto, A. Toor, H.S. Toor, and K. Fograscher. 2018. Decreases in beetle body size linked to climate change and warming temperatures. Journal of Animal Ecology. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12789 *co-second author, (class project). Press coverage of this paper: Quirks and Quarks; Science; CBC; Phys.org
Tseng M., and M. I. O’Connor. 2015. Predators modify the evolutionary response of prey to temperature change. Biology Letters. 11: 20150798. (sup mat), Press: UBC news, Global BC
Lab alumni
MSc: Sophia Fan (2024), Jihyun Kim (2022), Carla Di Filippo (2020)
Honours: Savi Raghuraman (2023), Erez Büyükyilmaz (2022), Kephra Becket (2018)
NSERC USRA/ UBC SURE: Alexandre Beauchemin, Mahan Rafieenaini (2022), Ernest Liang (2022), Madeline Fung (2019)
Directed Studies: Nicole Graham (2023), Sunny Gong (2022), Ali Dimitriou (2021), Yi Lin Zhou (2021), Jihyun Kim (2019), Evgeniya Yangel (2018), Casey Patmore (2018), Sina Soliemani Pari (2017), Allison Pritchard (2017)