Research

I started my graduate research in January 2020 with Peter Kotanen, transferred from a Master of Science degree to a Doctor of Philosophy Science in February 2021, passed my PhD Appraisal Exam in April 2022, and defended my thesis in December 2025. My graduate research investigated the factors that increase invasion risk of non-native species in the subarctic. My fieldwork took place in Churchill, Manitoba (the polar bear capital of the world), where I conducted field surveys, transplants, and common garden experiments with many weedy non-native species. This research is becoming a crucial field of research, as natural native-dominated northern ecosystems are extremely vulnerable to climate change, which can increase the prevalence of invasive species.

My research experience started in my undergraduate, and I was fortunate enough to be involved in various projects during my undergraduate, working with ambush bugs, dragonflies, duckweed, and more!

You can find my articles below, or on my Google Scholar profile.

Journal Articles

Nutrient addition increases non-native plant growth but not survival in a subarctic treeline environment

Published in Biological Invasions, 2026

Recommended citation: Zhang, V.M., Kotanen, P.M. (2026). "Nutrient addition increases non-native plant growth but not survival in a subarctic treeline environment." Biological Invasions 28(173).
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Anthropogenically-modified soil increases the performance of non-native plants in a subarctic ecosystem

Published in Neobiota, 2025

Recommended citation: Zhang, V.M., Kotanen, P.M. (2025). "Anthropogenically-modified soil increases the performance of non-native plants in a subarctic ecosystem." Neobiota 104: 59-72.
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Low temperatures reduce establishment of new populations of invasive plants in a subarctic treeline environment

Published in Oecologia, 2025

Recommended citation: Zhang, V.M., Kotanen, P.M. (2025). "Low temperatures reduce establishment of new populations of invasive plants in a subarctic treeline environment." Oecologia 207, 167.
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Development of negative soil feedback by an invasive plant near the northern limit of its invaded range

Published in Plant Ecology, 2023

Recommended citation: Zhang, V.M., Kotanen, P.M. (2023). "Development of negative soil feedback by an invasive plant near the northern limit of its invaded range." Plant Ecology 224, 635-645.
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Potential role of the seed bank in spreading invasive plants in a tundra-edge environment

Published in Botany, 2023

Recommended citation: Syed, O.A., Zhang, V.M., Kotanen, P.M. (2023). "Potential role of the seed bank in spreading invasive plants in a tundra-edge environment." Botany 101(6).
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Chronic Road Salt Exposure Across Life Stages and The Interactive Effects of Warming and Salinity in a Semiaquatic Insect

Published in Environmental Entomology, 2022

Recommended citation: Zhang, V.M., Martin, R.L., Murray, R.L. (2022). "Chronic Road Salt Exposure Across Life Stages and The Interactive Effects of Warming and Salinity in a Semiaquatic Insect." Environmental Entomology. 51(2).
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Climate change has different predicted effects on the range shifts of two hybridising ambush bug (Phymata) species

Published in Ecology and Evolution, 2020

Recommended citation: Zhang, V.M., Punzalan, D., Rowe, L. (2020). "Climate change has different predicted effects on the range shifts of two hybridizing ambush bug (Phymata, Family Reduviidae, Order Hemiptera) species." Ecology and Evolution. 10(21).
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Vicki M. Zhang