Research interests

My research looks at ways to monitor and conserve biodiversity in agricultural landscapes, focussing on the factors affecting plant diversity at local and landscape scales. I work in both highly intensive cropping systems and High Nature Value Farmland in many EU countries, but with a special focus on Germany and Romania. I am particularly interested in agri-environment schemes as one way to promote biodiversity-friendly management of landscapes, as well as environmental policy more broadly and the role of nature conservation advice to farmers.

Current project

• Coordination of plant diversity monitoring in the demonstration farm project "F.R.A.N.Z.", which aims to increase biodiversity in conventional farming systems in Germany: www.franz-projekt.de. I advise farmers on ways to integrate nature conservation into their crop and livestock production to promote typical wild species of agricultural habitats. I coordinate a team of surveyors to monitor the results of the implemented measures at the field and farm level.

External projects

With the Institute for Agroecology and Biodiversity (IFAB-Mannheim):

• Nature Conservation Advice for Farmers in Germany, in collaboration and the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN). We aim to promote the quality and availability of conservation advice in Germany by linking practitioners, policy-makers and scientists in workshops and seminars, as well as working together with students to train the next generation of conservation advisors.
• Grassland monitoring in 27 EU member states for Eurostat's 2022 LUCAS survey: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/lucas. Following a pilot survey in 2018, we are further developing a survey module collecting detailed data on grassland use and ecological value for the EU-wide LUCAS (Land Use and Coverage Area frame Survey) project.
• Results-Based Payments for Biodiversity in Central Romania, in collaboration with Fundația ADEPT: http://www.fundatia-adept.org/?content=rbaps. Results-Based Agri-Environment Schemes directly reward farmers for conservation outcomes (e.g. number of breeding birds or plant species richness) rather than for carrying out management assumed to be related to conservation benefits (e.g. late mowing or reduced fertiliser application). This project explores the possibilities for implementing RBPS for the first time in the context of species-rich grassland in Romania.

Curriculum vitae

2016-present: Post doc at the Dept. Plant Ecology and Ecosystem Research (Göttingen)

2015-present: Employee at the Institute for Agroecology and Biodiversity (IFAB) in Mannheim, Germany.

2015-2016: Research associate at the Chair of Vegetation Science and Nature Conservation, University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HAWK), Göttingen

2013-2015: Research associate at the Dept. Plant Ecology and Ecosystem Research (Göttingen), freelance translation and consultancy in the field of nature conservation

2010-2013: PhD on the subject of "Conservation, governance and biodiversity of semi-natural grasslands in Southern Transylvania (Romania)" within the interdisciplinary PhD course "Biodiversity and Society" (Dept. Plant Ecology and Ecosystem Research, University of Göttingen)

2009-2010: Environmental policy intern at the UK government Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the independent charitable organisation the Natural Capital Initiative.

2007-2009: MSc Biodiversity and Ecology, University of Göttingen

2006-2007: Field Assistant for Landcare Research (New Zealand) and the University of Cape Town (South Africa).

2003-2006: BA (Hons) in Natural Sciences (Part II Zoology) at the University of Cambridge, UK

Publications

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3610-0017

First author:
Sutcliffe L.M.E., & Leuschner C. (2022) Auswirkungen von Biodiversitätsmaßnahmen auf die Segetalflora auf intensiv bewirtschafteten landwirtschaftlichen Flächen - Ergebnisse aus dem F.R.A.N.Z.-Projekt. Naturschutz und Landschaftsplanung 54 (06): 22-29. DOI: 10.1399/NuL.2022.06.02

Sutcliffe L.M.E., Schraml A., Eiselt B., Oppermann R. (2019) The LUCAS Grassland Module Pilot – qualitative monitoring of grassland in Europe. Palearctic Grasslands 40: 27-31.

Sutcliffe L.M.E., Germany M., Becker U., Becker T. (2016) How does size and isolation affect patches of steppe-like vegetation on slumping hills in Transylvania, Romania? Biodiversity and Conservation  25: 2275. doi:10.1007/s10531-016-1108-8

Sutcliffe, L.M.E., Batáry, P., Kormann, U., Báldi, A., Dicks, L.V., Herzon, I., Kleijn, D., Tryjanowski, P., Apostolova, I., Arlettaz, R., Aunins, A., Aviron, S., Balezentiene, L., Fischer, C., Halada, L., Hartel, T., Helm, A., Hristov, I., Jelaska, S.V., Kaligarič, M., Kamp, J., Klimek, S., Koorberg, P., Kostiuková, J., Kovács-Hostyánszki, A., Kuemmerle, T., Leuschner, C., Lindborg, R., Loos, J., Maccherini, S., Marja, R., Máthé, O., Paulini, I., Proença, V., Rey-Benayas, J., Sans, FX, Seifert, C., Stalenga, J., Timaeus, J., Török, P., van Swaay, C., Viik, E. & Tscharntke, T. (2015) Harnessing the biodiversity value of Central and Eastern European farmland. Diversity and Distributions 21: 722-730. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ddi.12288/full

Sutcliffe L.M.E., Batáry P., Becker T., Orci K.M., Leuschner C. (2015) Both local and landscape factors determine plant and Orthoptera diversity in the semi-natural grasslands of Transylvania, Romania. Biodiversity and Conservation 24(2): 229-245. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10531-014-0804-5. DOI: 10.1007/s10531-014-0804-5

Sutcliffe L.M.E., Akeroyd J., Page N., Popa R. (2015): Combining approaches to support High Nature Value farmland in Romania. Hacquetia 14 (1), 53-63.

Sutcliffe L.M.E., Öllerer K., Roellig M. (2014) Wood-pasture management in Southern Transylvania (Romania): from communal to where? In: European wood-pastures in transition: a social-ecological approach (eds T. Hartel & T. Plieninger). Routledge, Abingdon, UK.

Chronological:

Rodenwald N., Sutcliffe L.M.E., Leuschner C., Batáry P. (2023) Weak evidence for biocontrol spillover from both flower strips and grassy field margins in conventional cereals. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 355, 108614. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2023.108614.

Schnee L., Sutcliffe L.M.E., Leuschner C., Donath T.W. (2023) Weed Seed Banks in Intensive Farmland and the Influence of Tillage, Field Position, and Sown Flower Strips. Land 12 (4), 926. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12040926

Biurrun I., Pielech R, Dembicz I [...] Sutcliffe L.M.E [...] Dengler J. (2021) Benchmarking plant diversity of Palaearctic grasslands and other open habitats. Journal of Vegetation Science 32 (4), e13050. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.13050

Loos J., Gallersdörfer J.,Hartel T., Dolek, M., Sutcliffe L.M.E. (2021) Limited effectiveness of EU policies to conserve an endangered species of High Nature Value Farmland in Romania. Ecology and Society. 26 (3): 3. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-12489-260303

Wietzke A, Albert K, Bergmeier E, Sutcliffe L.M.E., van Waveren CS, Leuschner C (2020) Flower strips, conservation field margins and fallows promote the arable flora in intensively farmed landscapes: Results of a 4-year study. Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment 304: 107142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2020.107142.

Vassilev K., Ruprecht E., Alexiu, V., Becker T., Beldean M., Biță-Nicolae C., Csergő A., Dzhovanova, I., Filipova E., Frink J. P., Gafta D., Georgieva M., Markus S. Germany, Irina Goia, Media Gumus, Hennekens S. M., Janišová M., Knollová I., Koleva V., Kostadinova S., Kuzmanović N., Loos J., Mardari C., Michl T, Neblea, M. A., Nicoară R. I., Novák P., Öllerer K., Onete M., Palpurina S., Paulini I., Pedashenko H., Pușcaș M., Roman A., Šibík J., Sîrbu C., Stancu D., Sutcliffe L.M.E., Szabó S, Tomescu C, Totev E., Tsvetanov B, Turtureanu P. D.,  Vassileva P., Velev N. & Dengler J. (2018) The Romanian Grassland Database (RGD): historical background, current status and future perspectives. Phytocoenologia. 48 (1): 91-100.

Walentowski, H., Falk, W., Mette, T., Kunz, J., Bräuning, A., Meinardus, C., Zang, C., Sutcliffe, L., Leuschner, C. (2017) Assessing future suitability of tree species under climate change by multiple methods: a case study in southern Germany. Annals of Forest Research 60(1): 101-126. DOI:10.15287/afr.2016.789

Akeroyd J.R., Sutcliffe L.M.E., Popa R. & Page N. (2013) The LIFE project STIPA: Saving Transylvania’s important pastoral agro-ecosystems. Conference proceedings “Steppe Habitats of Europe: threats, conservation measures and protection”, pp. 341-350.

Sutcliffe L, Paulini I, Jones G, Marggraf R, Page N. (2013): Pastoral commons use in Romania and the role of the Common Agricultural Policy. International Journal of the Commons 7(1): 58-72. DOI: 10.18352/ijc.367

Batáry P, Sutcliffe L, Dormann CF, Tscharntke T (2013) Organic Farming Favours Insect-Pollinated over Non-Insect Pollinated Forbs in Meadows and Wheat Fields. PLoS ONE 8(1): e54818. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0054818

Ashford OS, Foster WA, Turner BL, Sayer EJ, Sutcliffe L, Tanner EVJ (2013) Litter manipulation and the soil arthropod community in a lowland tropical rainforest. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 62: 5-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2013.03.001

Sutcliffe L.M.E., Röllig M, Hartel T (2013) An analysis of local institutions governing common pasture use for biodiversity and society in Transylvania, Romania. In: Jan Friedrich, Aurélie Halsband und Lisa Minkmar (eds.). Societal Dimensions of the Conservation and Utilisation of Biological Diversity, Conference Proceedings. pp 297-302. http://webdoc.sub.gwdg.de/univerlag/2013/biodiversitaet_und_gesellschaft.pdf

Dengler, J., Becker, T., Ruprecht, E., Szabó, A., Becker, U., Beldean, M., Bita-Nicolae, C., Dolnik, C., Goia, I., Peyrat, J., Sutcliffe, L.M.E., Turtureanu, P.D., Uğurlu, E.: (2012) Festuco-Brometea communities of the Transylvanian Plateau (Romania) – a preliminary overview on syntaxonomy, ecology, and biodiversity. Tuexenia 32: 319-359

Sutcliffe L. & Page N. (2012) STIPA: Saving Transylvania’s Important Pastoral Agro-Ecosystems. Bulletin of the EDGG. 14:11-12 (Available online: http://www.edgg.org/publ/bulletin/Bulletin_EDGG_14.pdf)

Page N., Popa R., Huband S., Balan A., Sutcliffe L. (2012) Romania. In: Oppermann R., Beaufoy G. & Jones G., (eds.) High Nature Value farming in Europe, European Forum for Nature Conservation and Pastoralism. Verlag Regionalkultur, Ubstadt. pp. 346-357

Sutcliffe LME & Larkham KS (2011) Monitoring High Nature Value Grassland in Transylvania, Romania. In: Mountain hay meadows – hotspots of biodiversity and traditional culture. Editor: Barbara Knowles. Publisher: Society of Biology, London, 2011. ISBN: 978-0-900490-40-8 (available online here: http://mountainhaymeadows.eu/online_publication/index.html)

Sutcliffe LME & Larkham KS (2010) High Nature Value grassland assessment in Transylvania: management, monitoring and indicator species. Aspects of Applied Biology 100:43-50.

Sayer EJ, Sutcliffe LME, Ross, RIC & Tanner EVJ (2009) Arthropod abundance and diversity in a lowland tropical forest floor: the role of habitat space vs. nutrient concentrations. Biotropica 42 (2): 194-200. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7429.2009.00576.x

Marr SM, Sutcliffe LME, Day JA, Griffiths CL & Skelton PH (2009) Conserving the fishes of the Twee River, Cederberg: revisiting the issues. African Journal of Aquatic Science 34 (1): 77-85. https://doi.org/10.2989/AJAS.2009.34.1.8.733

News

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External links

http://www.fundatia-adept.org
Biodiversity conservation and community development in Transylvania with the ADEPT foundation.

http://www.mozaic-romania.org
The Mozaic association carries out interdisciplinary projects in the field of nature conservation and rural development in Romania, focussing on the region around the city of Cluj

http://www.efncp.org
The European Forum on Nature Conservation and Pastoralism (EFNCP) is a Europe-wide network which raises awareness of the importance of low-intensity farming for nature conservation and aims to improve the way public policies respond to the needs of these farming systems

http://mountainhaymeadows.eu
Website of the Mountain Hay Meadows project in Transylvania, coordinated by the NGO Pogany Havas

http://www.edgg.org
The Eurasian Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) is a network of researchers and conservationists interested in Palaearctic natural and semi-natural grasslands.

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/lucas