Dr Leanne Cullen-Unsworth
Research Fellow
- cullen-unsworthlc@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44(0) 29 2087 9366
- 2.11, 33 Park Place, Cathays, Cardiff, CF10 3BA
- Available for postgraduate supervision
I am a Research Fellow at the Sustainable Places Research Institute and a Director of the marine environmental charity Project Seagrass
My research interests are in the interactions between people and planet. In particular coupled social-ecological systems and sustainability in the marine environment. I currently have a stron focus on seagrass meadows internationally and lead a project investigating drivers of seagrass decline across multiple scales throughout SE Asia. Through my role as a director of Project Seagrass I work on improving our understanding of seagrass systems in the UK and raising awareness of their importance.
Expertise and Interests
* Nearshore habitats, particuarly seagrass systems
* Coupled social-ecological systems analysis
* Maintenance and strengthening of marine ecosystem services
* Marine Fisheries
* Cooperative research, community engagement, place-based research approaches
* Project management
Leanne has a B.Sc. in Marine Biology from Newcastle University, a M.Sc. in Marine Environmental Protection from Bangor University and a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Essex University. Her PhD investigated marine resource use patterns and associated socio-economic impacts in Indonesia. She completed a Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) postdoctoral fellowship in Australia where she focused on coupled social-ecological systems in a terrestrial context working closely with Indigenous peoples to document socio-cultural values associated with the environment. Her current research focuses on the threats posed to livelihoods and the economy, food security and lifestyles from global environmental change and the overexploitation of natural resources.
Her previous research has focused on linked social-ecological systems within a terrestrial context (the Wet Tropical Rainforest of Queensland); however, Leanne has a strong background in marine science and is interested in marine and coastal resource use and management, in particular the ecological and economic value of seagrass meadows across multiple scales.
Other research interests include: the value of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) in natural resource use and management and the integration of TEK and scientific knowledge; economic valuation of natural resources and Ecosystem Services; resource use patterns; sustainable livelihoods; biocultural diversity and resilience.
Her experience includes: economic analysis of natural resources; Indigenous community engagement; socio-economic and ecological indicator development and verification; Community derived indicator development; Community engagement, cooperative research, place-based research/learning approaches; Environmental monitoring and survey work; Biological, ecological, oceanographic and socio-economic survey techniques. Co-development of solutions to resource problems using a variety of mixed methodological approaches is also a strong interest of hers. Leanne has extensive experience working with Indigenous peoples in remote areas of Indonesia and Australia particularly around joint management issues and governance of natural resources.
Professional memberships
Member: CSIRO alumni network (since 2010)
Member: International Society of Ecological Economics (since 2006)
Member: International Society of Reef Studies (since 2009)
Member: Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (since 2008)
2019
- Unsworth, R.et al. 2019. Global challenges for seagrass conservation. AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment 48(8), pp. 801-815. (10.1007/s13280-018-1115-y)
- Unsworth, R., Nordlund, L. and Cullen-Unsworth, L. 2019. Seagrass meadows support global fisheries production. Conservation Letters 12(1), article number: e12566. (10.1111/conl.12566)
2018
- Unsworth, R. K.et al. 2018. A changing climate for seagrass conservation?. Current Biology 28(21), pp. R1229. (10.1016/j.cub.2018.09.027)
- Keulen, M. v., Nordlund, L. M. and Cullen-Unsworth, L. C. 2018. Towards recognition of seagrasses, and their sustainable management. Marine Pollution Bulletin 134, pp. 1-496. (10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.08.046)
- Cullen-Unsworth, L. C.et al. 2018. Reasons for seagrass optimism: local ecological knowledge confirms presence of dugongs. Marine Pollution Bulletin 134, pp. 118-122. (10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.11.007)
- Unsworth, R. K.et al. 2018. Indonesia's globally significant seagrass meadows are under widespread threat. Science of the Total Environment 634, pp. 279-286. (10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.315)
- Cullen-Unsworth, L. C. and Unsworth, R. 2018. A call for seagrass protection. Science 361(6401), pp. 446-448. (10.1126/science.aat7318)
- Jones, B.et al. 2018. Crowdsourcing conservation: The role of citizen science in securing a future for seagrass. Marine Pollution Bulletin 134, pp. 210-215. (10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.11.005)
- Jones, B.et al. 2018. Complex yet fauna-deficient seagrass ecosystems at risk in southern Myanmar. Botanica Marina 61(3), pp. 193-204. (10.1515/bot-2017-0082)
- Nordlund, L. M.et al. 2018. Global significance of seagrass fishery activity. Fish and Fisheries 19(3), pp. 399-412. (10.1111/faf.12259)
- Jones, B. L.et al. 2018. Conservation concerns of small-scale fisheries: By-catch impacts of a shrimp and finfish fishery in a Sri Lankan lagoon. Frontiers in Marine Science 5, article number: 52. (10.3389/fmars.2018.00052)
- Jones, B., Cullen-Unsworth, L. and Unsworth, R. K. 2018. Tracking nitrogen source using δ15N reveals human and agricultural drivers of seagrass degradation across the British Isles. Frontiers in Plant Science 9, article number: 133. (10.3389/fpls.2018.00133)
- Cullen-Unsworth, L. C.et al. 2018. Secret gardens under the sea: What are seagrass meadows and why are they important?. Frontiers for Young Minds 6(2) (10.3389/frym.2018.00002)
2017
- Unsworth, R. . K. F.et al. 2017. Rocking the boat: damage to eelgrass by swinging boat moorings. Frontiers in Plant Science 8, article number: 1309. (10.3389/fpls.2017.01309)
- Unsworth, R. K. F. and Cullen-Unsworth, L. C. 2017. Seagrass meadows. Current Biology 27(11), pp. R443-R445. (10.1016/j.cub.2017.01.021)
2016
- Unsworth, R., Jones, B. and Cullen-Unsworth, L. 2016. Seagrass meadows are threatened by expected loss of peatlands in Indonesia. Global Change Biology 22(9), pp. 2957-2958. (10.1111/gcb.13392)
- Unsworth, R. K. F. and Cullen-Unsworth, L. C. 2016. Seagrass dependent Artisanal Fisheries of Southeast Asia. In: Finlayson, C. M. et al. eds. The Wetland Book II: Distribution, Description, and Conservation. Dordrecht: Springer, (10.1007/978-94-007-6173-5_267-1)
- Cullen-Unsworth, L. and Unsworth, R. K. F. 2016. Strategies to enhance the resilience of the world's seagrass meadows. Journal of Applied Ecology 53(4), pp. 967-972. (10.1111/1365-2664.12637)
- Jones, B.et al. 2016. SeagrassSpotter. [Online]. Project Seagrass. Available at: http://www.seagrassspotter.org
2015
- Unsworth, R. K. F.et al. 2015. A framework for the resilience of seagrass ecosystems. Marine Pollution Bulletin 100(1), pp. 34-46. (10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.08.016)
- Cullen-Unsworth, L. C. and Maclean, K. 2015. "We now have a name for some of the big changes happening on our Bubu [country]". The role of indigenous knowledge for the management of cultural landscapes in a changing climate. A case study of the Kuku Nyungkal people from the Queensland Wet Tropics, Australia. In: Harvey, D. and Perry, J. eds. The Future of Heritage as Climates Change: Loss, Adaptation and Creativity. Key Issues in Cultural Heritage Routledge, pp. 95-110.
- Baker, S. C.et al. 2015. An ecosystems perspective for food security in the Caribbean: Seagrass meadows in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Ecosystem Services 11, pp. 12-21. (10.1016/j.ecoser.2014.07.011)
- Cullen-Unsworth, L. C. and Wallace, M. 2015. Resilience and returning to country: rainforest aboriginal people of the wet tropics of Queensland, Australia. In: Bohm, S., Bharucha, Z. P. and Pretty, J. eds. Ecocultures: Blueprints for Sustainable Communities. Routledge, pp. 78-96.
2014
- Unsworth, R. K. F.et al. 2014. Food supply depends on seagrass meadows in the coral triangle. Environmental Research Letters 9(9), article number: 94005. (10.1088/1748-9326/9/9/094005)
- Clifton, J., Cullen-Unsworth, L. C. and Unsworth, R. K. F. 2014. Valuing and evaluating marine ecosystem services: putting the right price on marine environments?. Environment and Society: Advances in Research 5(1), pp. 66-85. (10.3167/ares.2014.050105)
- Cullen-Unsworth, L. C.et al. 2014. Seagrass meadows globally as a coupled social-ecological system: implications for human wellbeing. Marine Pollution Bulletin 83(2), pp. 387-397. (10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.06.001)
- Unsworth, R. and Cullen-Unsworth, L. C. 2014. Biodiversity, ecosystem services and the conservation of seagrass meadows. In: Maslo, B. and Lockwood, J. eds. Coastal Conservation. Cambridge University Press, pp. 95-130., (10.1017/CBO9781139137089.005)
2013
- Baker, S. C.et al. 2013. Biodiversity and food security: Developing a collaborative policy for seagrass management in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Available at: http://darwin.defra.gov.uk/newsletter/July2013newsletter.pdf
- Cullen-Unsworth, L. C. and Unsworth, R. 2013. Seagrass meadows, ecosystem services, and sustainability. Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development 55(3), pp. 14-27. (10.1080/00139157.2013.785864)
2012
- Cullen-Unsworth, L. C.et al. 2012. A research process for integrating Indigenous and scientific knowledge in cultural landscapes: principles and determinants of success in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, Australia. The Geographical Journal 178(4), pp. 357-365. (10.1111/j.1475-4959.2011.00451.x)
- Unsworth, R. and Cullen-Unsworth, L. C. 2012. An inter-specific behavioural association between a High fin grouper (Epinephelus maculatus) and a reef octopus (Octopus cyanea). Marine Biodiversity Records 5, article number: e97. (10.1017/S1755267212000735)
- Gooch, M.et al. 2012. Community-derived indicator domains for social resilience to water quality decline in a Great Barrier Reef catchment, Australia. Society & Natural Resources: An International Journal 25(5), pp. 421-439. (10.1080/08941920.2011.608183)
2011
- Cullen-Unsworth, L. C., Pretty, J. and Smith, D. J. 2011. Developing community-derived indicators of the economic impact of conservation management in the Coral Triangle. Ocean and Coastal Management 54(6), pp. 466-454. (10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2011.03.004)
- Cullen-Unsworth, L. C., Pretty, J. and Smith, D. J. 2011. Developing community-derived indicators of economic status in the coral triangle: a management support tool. Ocean & Coastal Management 54(6), pp. 446-454. (10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2011.03.004)
- Unsworth, R. and Cullen-Unsworth, L. C. 2011. Seagrass meadows vital for marine conservation. Pacific Ecologist 20, pp. 51-54.
- Cullen-Unsworth, L. C., Pretty, J. and Smith, D. J. 2011. Developing community-derived indicators of the economic impact of conservation management in the Coral Triangle. Ocean & Coastal Management 54(6), pp. 446-454. (10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2011.03.004)
- Hill, R.et al. 2011. Empowering Indigenous peoples' biocultural diversity through world heritage cultural landscapes: A case study from the Australian tropical forests. International Journal of Heritage Studies 17(6), pp. 571-591. (10.1080/13527258.2011.618252)
- Cullen-Unsworth, L. C.et al. 2011. Development of Linked Biophysical and Cultural Indicators for the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. International Journal of Science in Society 2(4), pp. 181-194.
- Hill, R.et al. 2011. Empowering indigenous peoples' biocultural diversity through World Heritage cultural landscapes: a case study from the Australian humid tropical forests. International Journal of Heritage Studies 17(6), pp. 571-591. (10.1080/13527258.2011.618252)
2010
- Clifton, J.et al. 2010. Ensuring appropriate and proportionate responses to environmental threats: A response to Caras and Pasternak. Ocean and Coastal Management 53(11), pp. 700-702. (10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2010.10.003)
- Unsworth, R. K. F. and Cullen-Unsworth, L. C. 2010. Recognising the necessity for Indo-Pacific seagrass conservation. Conservation Letters 3(2), pp. 63-73. (10.1111/j.1755-263X.2010.00101.x)
- Cullen-Unsworth, L. C.et al. 2010. Cooperative research: an example from Far North Queensland. International Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences 5(6), pp. 139-154.
- Unsworth, R. K. F.et al. 2010. Economic and subsistence values of the standing stocks of seagrass fisheries: Potential benefits of no-fishing marine protected area management. Ocean & Coastal Management 53(5-6), pp. 218-224. (10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2010.04.002)
- Cullen, R. K. F. and Cullen-Unsworth, L. C. 2010. Recognising the necessity for Indo-Pacific seagrass conservation. Conservation Letters 3(2), pp. 63-73. (10.1111/j.1755-263X.2010.00101.x)
- Clifton, J.et al. 2010. Ensuring appropriate and proportionate responses to environmental threats: a response to Caras and Pasternak. Ocean & Coastal Management 53(11), pp. 700-702. (10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2010.10.003)
- Cullen-Unsworth, L. C. 2010. Marine resource dependence and natural resource use patterns in a small Indo-Pacific Island community: implications for Management. In: Cullen-Unsworth, R., Clifton, J. and Smith, D. J. eds. Marine Research and Conservation in the Coral Triangle: the Wakatobi National Park. Environmental science, engineering and technology New York: Nova Science, pp. 171-191.
- Unsworth, R. K. F.et al. 2010. Economic and subsistence values of the standing stocks of seagrass fisheries: Potential benefits of no-fishing marine protected area management. Ocean and Coastal Management 53(5-6), pp. 218-224. (10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2010.04.002)
2009
- Cullen-Unsworth, L. C. 2009. Marine resource dependence and use in a small island community. VDM Verlag, Saarbrucken, Germany.
- Maclean, K. and Cullen-Unsworth, L. C. 2009. Research methodologies for the co-production of knowledge for environmental management in Australia. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 39(4), pp. 205-208. (10.1080/03014220909510581)
- Unsworth, R. F. K.et al. 2009. Structuring of Indo-Pacific fish assemblages along the mangrove-seagrass continuum. Aquatic Biology 5(1), pp. 85-95. (10.3354/ab00139)
2008
- Smith, D., Pilgrim, S. and Cullen-Unsworth, L. C. 2008. Coral reefs and people. In: Pretty, J., Ball, A. and Benton, T. eds. The SAGE Handbook of Environment and Society. Sage, pp. 1081-1117.
- Pilgrim, S. E.et al. 2008. Ecological knowledge is lost in wealthier communities and countries. Environmental Science & Technology 42(4), pp. 1004-1009. (10.1021/es070837v)
- Cullen-Unsworth, L. C.et al. 2008. Framework for the identification of linked cultural and biophysical indicators for the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. International Journal of Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability 4(2), pp. 37-46.
2007
- Pilgrim, S. E.et al. 2007. Hidden harvest or hidden revenue? The effect of economic development pressures on local resource use in a remote region of southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 6(1), pp. 150-159.
- Cullen-Unsworth, L. C.et al. 2007. Links between local ecological knowledge and wealth in indigenous communities of Indonesia: implications for conservation of marine resources. The International Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences 2(1), pp. 289-300.
Current research interests
Seagrass supported fisheries
Sustainability of marine and coastal systems in the UK and overseas
Restoration of critical marine habitat
Recognising the role of seagrass meadows in food security: re-prioritising the marine conservation agenda SE Asia
Strengthening local knowledge for marine conservation
Biodiversity and food security: developing collaborative policy for seagrass conservation
I am interested in supervising PhD students in the areas of:
* Seagrass systems in the UK and overseas, particularly social-ecological linkages
* LEK and marine systems
* Coastal and marine sustainability and management
