Senior Lecturer in Plant Sciences
Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA
• 2023 - present: Senior Lecturer in Plant Science, University of Stirling • 2019 – 2023: Lecturer in Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University • 2018 – 2019: Statistician, Scottish Government • 2016 - 2018: Postdoctoral Research Assistant, University of Stirling, funded by NERC • 2012 - 2016: Ph.D., University of Stirling, funded by Scottish Natural Heritage and Scottish Environment Protection Agency • 2011 - 2012: MRes Biological Sciences by Research, Royal Holloway University of London • 2008 - 2011: BSc (Hons) Ecology, Royal Holloway University of London • 2006 - 2007: Certificate in Natural Science, Distance Learning Access course, The Open University
I have expertise in community and ecosystem responses to invasive non-native species, particularly plants; the underlying mechanisms of invasion which drive plant community composition and competition, and the role of dispersal. I have expertise and interests in the threats to and sustainable development of water and food security due to invasions; and the causes and consequences of freshwater biodiversity loss. My research interests also include climate and anthropogenic impacts on forest systems; drivers of local and global spatial patterns of species distributions and research focused on meeting the UN SDG goals 15 and 6.
I have a range of projects in the UK, Tanzania, and Malawi, alongside some work in Europe. Over the last few years, I have been carrying out various bits of work around safety and equality in fieldwork.
Article
Jones IL, DeWalt SJ, Lopez OR, Bunnefeld L, Pattison Z & Dent DH (2019) Above- and belowground carbon stocks are decoupled in secondary tropical forests and are positively related to forest age and soil nutrients respectively. Science of The Total Environment, 697, Art. No.: 133987. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.133987
Article
The effectiveness of aquatic plants as surrogates for wider biodiversity in standing fresh waters
Law A, Baker A, Sayer C, Foster G, Gunn IDM, Taylor P, Pattison Z, Blaikie J & Willby NJ (2019) The effectiveness of aquatic plants as surrogates for wider biodiversity in standing fresh waters. Freshwater Biology, 64 (9), pp. 1664-1675. https://doi.org/10.1111/fwb.13369
Article
Seeney A, Eastwood S, Pattison Z, Willby N & Bull C (2019) All change at the water's edge: invasion by non-native riparian plants negatively impacts terrestrial invertebrates. Biological Invasions, 21 (6), pp. 1933-1946. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-019-01947-5
Article
Riverbanks as battlegrounds: why does the abundance of native and invasive plants vary?
Pattison Z, Vallejo-Marín M & Willby N (2019) Riverbanks as battlegrounds: why does the abundance of native and invasive plants vary?. Ecosystems, 22 (3), pp. 578-586. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-018-0288-3
Article
Stream invertebrate diversity reduces with invasion of river banks by non-native plants
Seeney A, Pattison Z, Willby NJ, Boon PJ & Bull CD (2019) Stream invertebrate diversity reduces with invasion of river banks by non-native plants. Freshwater Biology, 64 (3), pp. 485-496. https://doi.org/10.1111/fwb.13236
Newspaper Article
Alien plant invasions: helping British rivers to fight back
Pattison Z (2018) Alien plant invasions: helping British rivers to fight back. The Conversation. 17.10.2018.
Article
Invasion legacy effects versus sediment deposition as drivers of riparian vegetation
Pattison Z, Whytock R & Willby N (2018) Invasion legacy effects versus sediment deposition as drivers of riparian vegetation. Biological Invasions, 20 (5), pp. 1189-1198. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-017-1619-6
Article
Twenty years of change in riverside vegetation: What role have invasive alien plants played?
Pattison Z, Minderman J, Boon P & Willby N (2017) Twenty years of change in riverside vegetation: What role have invasive alien plants played?. Applied Vegetation Science, 20 (3), pp. 422-434. https://doi.org/10.1111/avsc.12297
Article
Pattison Z, Rumble H, Tanner R, Jin L & Gange A (2016) Positive plant–soil feedbacks of the invasive Impatiens glandulifera and their effects on above-ground microbial communities [Impatiens glandulifera plant–soil feedbacks]. Weed Research, 56 (3), pp. 198-207. https://doi.org/10.1111/wre.12200
Newspaper Article
What is the 'hairy panic' tumbleweed that has buried a small Australian city?
Pattison Z (2016) What is the 'hairy panic' tumbleweed that has buried a small Australian city?. The Conversation. 19.02.2016. https://theconversation.com/what-is-the-hairy-panic-tumbleweed-that-has-buried-a-small-australian-city-55074
