Michelle Tseng

Michelle Tseng is an Associate Professor in the Department of Botany at the University of British Columbia (UBC) Faculty of Science. Her research focuses on population and community ecology, with particular emphasis on evolutionary responses to climate change, impacts of warming on aquatic and insect communities, and urban biodiversity conservation.

Her work addresses critical topics such as:

• Climate warming effects on body size, phenotypic plasticity, and species interactions
• Microplastics pollution in freshwater ecosystems
• Urban green spaces for insect conservation and pest management
• Evolutionary adaptation mechanisms in insects and plankton

Recent publications highlight temperature-driven ecological cascades, beetle thermal responses, and equity initiatives in ecology (e.g., the EEB POC Project).

She supervises graduate students including:

• Natasha Klasios (PhD: microplastics and warming)
• Markus Thormeyer (PhD)

Her lab at UBC's Biodiversity Research Centre engages undergraduates in collaborative research projects.