Professorship for Sustainable Landscapes

Organisational unit: Professoship

Organisation profile

The working group "Sustainable Landscapes" was established in November 2010 by Prof. Joern Fischer and is affiliated to the School of Sustainabilty at Leuphana University.

We are an interdisciplinary team working on human-environment relationships. Much of our work focuses on the landscape scale. We are particularly interested in how people use landscapes, and how land use, in turn, affects biodiversity and ecosystem services. We see people and nature as interdependent.

Main research areas

In addition to our work at the landscape scale, we are interested in the conceptual development of sustainability science at a global scale. Here, too, we are influenced by an ecosystems approach, but we also draw on the insights from the social sciences as appropriate.

Our goal is to contribute to sustainable development through solution-oriented research.

  1. 2017
  2. Published

    Reframing the Food–Biodiversity Challenge

    Fischer, J., Abson, D. J., Bergsten, A., Collier, N., Dorresteijn, I., Hanspach, J., Hylander, K., Schultner, J. & Senbeta, F., 05.2017, In: Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 32, 5, p. 335-345 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  3. Published

    Assessing sustainable biophysical human-nature connectedness at regional scales

    Dorninger, C., Abson, D. J., Fischer, J. & von Wehrden, H., 24.04.2017, In: Environmental Research Letters. 12, 5, p. 1-11 11 p., 055001.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Mapping and analysing historical indicators of ecosystem services in Germany

    Dittrich, A., von Wehrden, H., Abson, D. J., Bartkowski, B., Cord, A. F., Fust, P., Hoyer, C., Kambach, S., Meyer, M. A., Radzevičiūtė, R., Nieto-Romero, M., Seppelt, R. & Beckmann, M., 01.04.2017, In: Ecological Indicators. 75, p. 101-110 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    A plea for multifunctional landscapes

    Fischer, J., Meacham, M. & Queiroz, C., 01.03.2017, In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 15, 2, p. 59-59 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Transfer

  6. Published

    The use of player physical and technical skill match activity profiles to predict position in the Australian Football League draft

    Woods, C. T., Veale, J. P., Collier, N. & Robertson, S., 16.02.2017, In: Journal of Sports Sciences. 35, 4, p. 325-330 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Legacy effects of past land use on current biodiversity in a low-intensity farming landscape in Transylvania (Romania)

    Culbert, P. D., Dorresteijn, I., Loos, J., Clayton, M. K., Fischer, J. & Kuemmerle, T., 01.02.2017, In: Landscape Ecology. 32, 2, p. 429-444 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Leverage points for sustainability transformation

    Abson, D. J., Fischer, J., Leventon, J., Newig, J., Schomerus, T., Vilsmaier, U., von Wehrden, H., Abernethy, P., Ives, C. D., Jager, N. W. & Lang, D. J., 01.02.2017, In: Ambio. 46, 1, p. 30-39 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Embedding Evidence on Conservation Interventions Within a Context of Multilevel Governance

    Ekroos, J., Leventon, J., Fischer, J., Newig, J. & Smith, H. G., 01.01.2017, In: Conservation Letters. 10, 1, p. 139-145 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. 2016
  11. Published

    Managing Research Environments: Heterarchies in Academia. A Response to Cumming

    Fischer, J., 01.12.2016, In: Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 31, 12, p. 900-902 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  12. Published

    The role of sustainability in nuclear energy plans: What do national energy strategies tell us?

    Gralla, F., John, B., Abson, D. J., Møller, A. P., Bickel, M., Lang, D. J. & von Wehrden, H., 01.12.2016, In: Energy Research and Social Science. 22, p. 94-106 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  13. Published

    A social–ecological perspective on harmonizing food security and biodiversity conservation

    Wittman, H., Chappell, M. J., Abson, D. J., Kerr, R. B., Blesh, J., Hanspach, J., Perfecto, I. & Fischer, J., 26.09.2016, In: Regional Environmental Change. 17, 5, p. 1291-1301 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  14. Published

    Telomere length and environmental conditions predict stress levels but not parental investment in a long-lived seabird

    Young, R. C., Barger, C. P., Dorresteijn, I., Haussmann, M. F. & Kitaysky, A. S., 08.09.2016, In: Marine Ecology Progress Series. 556, p. 251-259 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  15. Published

    Characterizing social-ecological units to inform biodiversity conservation in cultural landscapes

    Hanspach, J., Loos, J., Dorresteijn, I., Abson, D. J. & Fischer, J., 01.08.2016, In: Diversity and Distributions. 22, 8, p. 853-864 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  16. Published

    Disaggregated contributions of ecosystem services to human well-being: a case study from Eastern Europe

    Horcea-Milcu, A. I., Leventon, J., Hanspach, J. & Fischer, J., 01.08.2016, In: Regional Environmental Change. 16, 6, p. 1779-1791 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    Crying wolf: Limitations of predator–prey studies need not preclude their salient messages

    Ritchie, E. G., Schultner, J., Nimmo, D. G., Fischer, J., Hanspach, J., Kuemmerle, T., Kehoe, L. & Dorresteijn, I., 13.07.2016, In: Proceedings of the Royal Society B . 283, 1834, 1 p., 20161244.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    Conservation of Pollinators in Traditional Agricultural Landscapes: New Challenges in Transylvania (Romania) Posed by EU Accession and Recommendations for Future Research

    Kovács-Hostyánszki, A., Földesi, R., Mózes, E., Szirák, Á., Fischer, J., Hanspach, J. & Báldi, A., 10.06.2016, In: PLoS ONE. 11, 6, 20 p., e0151650.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  19. Published

    Anatomical and neuromuscular variables strongly predict maximum knee extension torque in healthy men

    Trezise, J., Collier, N. & Blazevich, A. J., 01.06.2016, In: European Journal of Applied Physiology. 116, 6, p. 1159-1177 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  20. Published

    Social factors mediating human–carnivore coexistence: Understanding thematic strands influencing coexistence in Central Romania

    Dorresteijn, I., Milcu, A. I., Leventon, J., Hanspach, J. & Fischer, J., 01.05.2016, In: Ambio. 45, 4, p. 490-500 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  21. Published

    Direct negative density-dependence in a pond-breeding frog population

    Băncilă, R. I., Ozgul, A., Hartel, T., Sos, T. & Schmidt, B. R., 05.2016, In: Ecography. 39, 5, p. 449-455 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  22. Published

    Systematic student-driven literature reviews in sustainability science: An effective way to merge research and teaching

    Abson, D. J., Gralla, F., Lang, D. J., Rau, A. L., von Wehrden, H., Lüderitz, C. & Meyer, M., 15.04.2016, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 119, p. 229-235 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  23. Published

    A synthesis for everyone: 5 years of work in Romania

    Fischer, J., 16.03.2016

    Research output: other publicationsArticles in scientific forums or blogsResearch

  24. Published

    Impressions from a conference: sustainable land management

    Fischer, J., 08.03.2016

    Research output: other publicationsArticles in scientific forums or blogsResearch

  25. Published

    Hierarchy and respect

    Fischer, J., 03.03.2016

    Research output: other publicationsArticles in scientific forums or blogsResearch

  26. Published

    Reviving wood-pastures for biodiversity and people: A case study from western Estonia

    Roellig, M., Sutcliffe, L. M. E., Sammul, M., von Wehrden, H., Newig, J. & Fischer, J., 01.03.2016, In: Ambio. 45, 2, p. 185-195 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  27. Published

    The tyranny of coarse scales in sustainability science and policy

    Fischer, J., 15.02.2016

    Research output: other publicationsArticles in scientific forums or blogsResearch

  28. Published

    “Re-connecting people and nature”: wrong term, wrong goal?

    Fischer, J., 09.02.2016

    Research output: other publicationsArticles in scientific forums or blogsResearch

  29. Published

    Turning hurt into impact (?)

    Fischer, J., 02.02.2016, 1 p.

    Research output: other publicationsArticles in scientific forums or blogsResearch

  30. Published

    Transdisciplinarity in a messy world

    Fischer, J., 02.01.2016, Lüneburg

    Research output: other publicationsArticles in scientific forums or blogsResearch

  31. Published

    100 key research questions for the post-2015 development agenda

    Oldekop, J. A., Fontana, L. B., Grugel, J., Roughton, N., Adu-Ampong, E. A., Bird, G. K., Dorgan, A., Vera Espinoza, M. A., Wallin, S., Hammett, D., Agbarakwe, E., Agrawal, A., Asylbekova, N., Azkoul, C., Bardsley, C., Bebbington, A. J., Carvalho, S., Chopra, D., Christopoulos, S., Crewe, E., Dop, M. C., Fischer, J., Gerretsen, D., Glennie, J., Gois, W., Gondwe, M., Harrison, L. A., Hujo, K., Keen, M., Laserna, R., Miggiano, L., Mistry, S., Morgan, R. J., Raftree, L. L., Rhind, D., Rodrigues, T., Roschnik, S., Senkubuge, F., Thornton, I., Trace, S., Ore, T., Valdés, R. M., Vira, B., Yeates, N. & Sutherland, W. J., 01.01.2016, In: Development Policy Review. 34, 1, p. 55-82 28 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  32. Published

    The role of scenarios in fostering collective action for sustainable development: Lessons from central Romania

    Nieto-Romero, M., Milcu, A., Leventon, J., Mikulcak, F. & Fischer, J., 01.01.2016, In: Land Use Policy. 50, p. 156-168 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  33. Published
  34. 2015
  35. Published

    Functional diversity and trait composition of butterfly and bird communities in Farmlands of Central Romania

    Hanspach, J., Loos, J., Dorresteijn, I., Wehrden, H., Moga, C. I. & David, A., 01.12.2015, In: Ecosystem Health and Sustainability. 1, 10, p. 1-8 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  36. Published

    UN Global Action Programme and Education for Sustainable Development: A Critical Appraisal of the Evidence Base

    Fischer, D., Aubrecht, E. L., Brück, M., Ditges, L., Gathen, L., Jahns, M., Petersmann, M., Rau, J. & Wellmann, C., 24.11.2015, In: Discourse and Communication for Sustainable Education. 6, 1, p. 5-20 16 p., 1.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  37. Published

    Socioecological drivers facilitating biodiversity conservation in traditional farming landscapes

    Dorresteijn, I., Loos, J., Hanspach, J. & Fischer, J., 20.11.2015, In: Ecosystem Health and Sustainability. 1, 9, p. 1-9 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  38. Published

    Effects of prenatal environment on phenotype are revealed by postnatal challenges: embryonic hormone exposure, adrenocortical function, and food in seabird chicks

    Benowitz-Fredericks, Z. M., Schultner, J. & Kitaysky, A. S., 11.2015, In: Physiological and Biochemical Zoology. 88, 6, p. 607-623 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  39. Published

    Impact of land cover homogenization on the Corncrake (Crex crex) in traditional farmland

    Dorresteijn, I., Teixeira, L., von Wehrden, H., Loos, J., Hanspach, J., Stein, J. A. R. & Fischer, J., 04.10.2015, In: Landscape Ecology. 30, 8, p. 1483-1495 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  40. Published

    Landscape context influences chytrid fungus distribution in an endangered European amphibian

    Scheele, B. C., Driscoll, D. A., Fischer, J., Fletcher, A. W., Hanspach, J., Vörös, J. & Hartel, T., 01.10.2015, In: Animal Conservation. 18, 5, p. 480-488 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  41. Published

    Incorporating anthropogenic effects into trophic ecology: Predator - Prey interactions in a human-dominated landscape

    Dorresteijn, I., Schultner, J., Nimmo, D. G., Fischer, J., Hanspach, J., Kuemmerle, T., Kehoe, L. & Ritchie, E. G., 07.09.2015, In: Proceedings of the Royal Society B . 282, 1814, 8 p., 20151602.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  42. Published

    A review of urban ecosystem services: six key challenges for future research

    Lüderitz, C., Brink, E., Gralla, F., Hermelingmeier, V., Rau, A.-L., Abson, D., Lang, D. J., von Wehrden, H., Wamsler, C., Sasaki, R., Partelow, S., Meyer, M., Lisa, N. & Panzer, L., 01.08.2015, In: Ecosystem Services. 14, p. 98-112 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  43. Published

    Challenges for biodiversity monitoring using citizen science in transitioning social-ecological systems

    Loos, J., Horcea-Milcu, A. I., Kirkland, P., Hartel, T., Osváth-Ferencz, M. & Fischer, J., 01.07.2015, In: Journal for Nature Conservation. 26, p. 45-48 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  44. Published

    Edible wild fruit trees and shrubs and their socioeconomic significance in central ethiopia

    Seyoum, Y., Teketay, D., Shumi, G. & Wodafirash, M., 28.06.2015, In: Ethnobotany Research and Applications. 14, p. 183-197 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  45. Published

    A call for statistical editors in ecology

    Von Wehrden, H., Schultner, J. & Abson, D. J., 01.06.2015, In: Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 30, 6, p. 293 - 294 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  46. Published

    Harnessing the biodiversity value of Central and Eastern European farmland

    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., Baležentiene, L., Fischer, C., Halada, L., Hartel, T., Helm, A., Hristov, I., Jelaska, S. D., 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, F. X., Seifert, C., Stalenga, J., Timaeus, J., Török, P., van Swaay, C., Viik, E. & Tscharntke, T., 01.06.2015, In: Diversity and Distributions. 21, 6, p. 722-730 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  47. Published

    Advancing sustainability through mainstreaming a social-ecological systems perspective

    Fischer, J., Gardner, T. A., Bennett, E. M., Balvanera, P., Biggs, R., Carpenter, S., Daw, T., Folke, C., Hill, R., Hughes, T. P., Luthe, T., Maass, M., Meacham, M., Norström, A. V., Peterson, G., Queiroz, C., Seppelt, R., Spierenburg, M. & Tenhunen, J., 06.2015, In: Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. 14, p. 144-149 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  48. Published

    A continental-scale analysis of feral cat diet in Australia

    Doherty, T. S., Davis, R. A., van Etten, E. J. B., Algar, D., Collier, N., Dickman, C. R., Edwards, G., Masters, P., Palmer, R. & Robinson, S., 01.05.2015, In: Journal of Biogeography. 42, 5, p. 964-975 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  49. Published

    Changes in butterfly movements along a gradient of land use in farmlands of Transylvania (Romania)

    Loos, J., Kuussaari, M., Ekroos, J., Hanspach, J., Fust, P., Jackson, L. & Fischer, J., 04.2015, In: Landscape Ecology. 30, 4, p. 625-635 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  50. Published

    Telomere length is a strong predictor of foraging behavior in a long-lived seabird

    Young, R. C., Kitaysky, A. S., Barger, C. P., Dorresteijn, I., Ito, M. & Watanuki, Y., 01.03.2015, In: Ecosphere. 6, 3, 26 p., 39.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  51. Published

    Applying a capitals approach to understand rural development traps: A case study from post-socialist Romania

    Mikulcak, F., Haider, J. L., Abson, D., Newig, J. & Fischer, J., 01.02.2015, In: Land Use Policy. 43, 2, p. 248-258 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  52. Published

    Response of a shrubland mammal and reptile community to a history of landscape-scale wildfire

    Doherty, T. S., Davis, R. A., Van Etten, E. J. B., Collier, N. & Krawiec, J., 02.2015, In: International Journal of Wildland Fire. 24, 4, p. 534-543 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  53. Published

    Aliens in Transylvania: risk maps of invasive alien plant species in Central Romania

    Zimmermann, H., Loos, J., von Wehrden, H. & Fischer, J., 16.01.2015, In: NeoBiota. 24, p. 55-65 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review